2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

Ishara, I think it will get better for you. I think maybe the antibiotics may have contributed to some of your stomach discomfort....They always upset my stomach even without chemo. Stick with the protonix it takes a while to work. I am on prevacid and take it faithfully everyday. I also experienced alot of heartburn, indigestion with my second AC which was last week. I also experienced constipation which I don't think helped the situation. This week I am doing better but trying to stay away from certain foods especially fried....Next week I go again for #3 so who knows.....I am just praying each one will get easier. I am on the same treatment plan as you and I hear that Taxol isn't as hard on your stomach. I hope that is true....Good Luck and I hope you feel better soon....Grayce

Thanks to everyone who wrote with prayers and concern. It seems silly to me that reading letters from people hundreds of miles away, that I will likely never meet and have never met before would help... BUT MY GOD, it does!

When my friends ask, I will tell them if I need something... and they have been great for help. But I just really can't bring my self to answer, "my butt burts really bad" <whine, whine>, when they ask "how are you doing", so I just say "I'm doing okay" and smile through it. IT is SO nice to have a place where I can lay it on the line.. even if it's too gross for poliet company. Again, thank you very much for that.

I am feeling better today. I called the paitent advisory nurse last night after my post, and they gave me some solutions for the burning butt part, which helped a lot. The hip aching is intermitate today, and that IS a major improvement on yesterday. It turns out that part of the problem may be constipation instead of the neulastin, because I have been eating only white rice, white bread, white crackers with broth and such due to how messed up my tummy is. I'm not sure yet, what to do about that trade.

For my hair... I talked to my husband this morning. He says he would be willing to shave it, but he sold the eletric razor I gave him long ago in a yard sale. So we don't have anything to shave it with. I guess I will just have to go out today to do it. IF that will make my head feel better, I mean stop the stinging, It WILL be worth dragging all the way into the city for.

Thanks again,
Ishara

Hi Ladies,

I went to the support group meeting last Wednesday as usual. There were two ladies I'd never met before. One was a vibrant young woman who found out that her bc had spread to her spine after 3 years of NED (no evidence of disease). Her bc was grade 3 stage I with only 1 positive node. She had A/C and taxol and a lot of other things as well. One day after running she felt that she had sprained a muscle on her back. Diagnosis: spine mets. In spite of all this she is very hopeful because she will be able to do herceptin (along with another drug). She raves about the herceptin studies and says that one day chemo will be obsolete because of herceptin (she is her2/neu+). She will be taking herceptin in IV form for the rest of her life.

The other lady has MS AND breast cancer. She spoke slowly because of her condition. It was clear that in spite of what she's been dealt she is still very happy. She says she feels like a princess because everyone wants to do everything for her.

So when I say to myself, "I'm so tired of being sick!" because my appetite is slow in coming back and my stomach grumbles, I think about how it could be so much worse. The fact that I am strong enough to receive the A/C infusions is a huge plus. I should be more grateful and less whiny.

See, I cannot believe that after no evidence of disease that this lady got cancer in the spine without the doctors knowing about it!! It's infuriating that they don't do scans and/or some sort of blood work every 6 months so that there is no shock factor. Had this lady not gotten injured, she would not have known and it might have been too late to make the Herceptin work!!!

Hi Brenda,
I feel the same way it is therapeutic reading all the post on here. But some days I will come up here get on the computer stay on this site ALL day and by the end of the day my bottom is so sore from just sitting here all day. )
My husband set a website for me it's all about my journey so far and has all upcoming info on it as well for our family and friends so I am on that site too. It is so cool!! He showed it to me after my surgery he started posting stories on it first he's stories are so heartfelt!!! It's really neat.

That would be fun to meet people here on this site. You'll have to let us know how much fun you to have. I always wonder if anyone on here is in the Tennessee area?

I like my wig too but it doesn't look like me. Along time ago I did have my hair like that but my hair is much darker,longer and no bangs. When I first got it we were having dinner over at the inlaws and I wore it for fun and she thought I went and had my hair done it was funny. It did make me feel better about it though!!

Have a great weekend
Rhonda

Welcome to those who really don't want to join this club!! It's not a choice you would have made, I'm sure...none of us would have, but you are amond some of the most fantastic women in the world here!!

I was one who dredded the chemo...but it turned out ok.My problem is more than the chemo and they have postponed it for a while as I have to have surgery done on my left carotid artery and probably something done for a blockage in my pelvis which may be causeing horrendous pain from neuropathy in my left foot!!

I began losing my hair on Day 13 and just had it buzz cut this past Tuesday instead of having it coming out by the fistfuls. I was "slightly" emotionally distressed to say the least, but once I made the move, like all the others here, it was liberating and gave me the feeling of at least a little control here.

I was due for my 2nd chemo this past Wed. but as I said, they postponed it until this other surgery is done and I'm healing. I can hardly believe soooo much has happened all at once and now I wish I could have had my 2nd chemo! How's that for irony??

For those of you who know about the neuropathy, today was probably the worst yet. I called my GP and talked to his PA and was in tears from the pain...she recognized that I can't take any of the vicodin products so presecribed Darvocet and something that works on the nerve endings. I was with a girlfriend and was balling my eyes out. I guess the PA could tell I wasn't faking that's for sure!!!

My date was postponed until tomorrow so he hasn't seen the hair yet either, but I promise you he will tomorrow!!! I am not going through this without the people who love me seeing me for something I did that took strength!!!

Prayers for the other stuff would be soooooo welcome. It all scares me almost worse than the BC....how ironic...

Hope everyone is doing well tonight and that my bald sisters are finding the freedom still that they promised me!!!

love & hugs,
kate

Rhonda, I hate taking medicine too but I figure after having chemo It just doesn't matter anymore. Do what you have to do to make yourself comfortable. Good Luck with getting your muga and starting your first chemo. I hope you get to start on time. Keep us posted. Grayce

Kate, I am sorry to hear about the pain you are going through..I can't beleive this all happened after one chemo treatment...Do they think that is the cause? I am around your age and I am wondering if our age is going to work against us.....Although I have always considered myself physically fit I guess you just never know. Hugs to you, you are going to get through this, just a bump in the road. Grayce

Kate, I am glad to hear you feel better today and I hope you have fun on your date....You deserve it, you need time just for you.....Hugs, Graycie

Thanks Sherry, I have my 3rd AC tomorrow...getting a little nervous again. I send my Best Wishes to you for Thursday and to all you other girls having treatment/surgeries this week. I will be thinking of all of you..Grayce

Hope all went well for you - not much I can do but am thinking of you.
Debbie X

Good luck, ladies, with anyone getting chemo this week! I found that my #3 was just like the other ones, so no big deal.

I have been feeling more fatigue and having more acid reflux...what's helped for me is to go for a 30 minute walk every day. It's making me feel a lot better than all the other chemos...especially with the fatigue. Not a fast walk, but just a walk. Just wanted to pass it on

Good luck this week!

-Amy

Amy,
Those walks definitely help, I agree. I have a dog that needs to be walked everyday so I HAVE to walk. I realized only yesterday that the longer the walk the more settled my stomach gets!

Kate - Have you heard of Cymbalta? I know it helps with diabetic neuropathy - you may want to ask your doctor.

Thanks Amy for the advice on walking. I seem to be slacking off with my walks lately....The last time I walked I over did it and my leg muscles were sore for days but I am going to get back on track and maybe slow down a bit and not do so much...I really believe like you they help. I just had my chemo #3 today, I am willing to do anything that will make things easier....Graycie