Hello December gals,

I can so relate with all of you that are feeling almost physically ill at the thought of the next tx.  My third is on Thursday and I just get to feeling like I might be some use to society and my family again and back we go.  The good news is that this part of the journey will be more than 1/2 over soon. I am considering the DD AC its own journey as the thought of 12 weeks in a row of Taxol is almost more then I can mentally deal with right now.

On the topic of Emend...I got my cancer care center to provide it for me day of and send me home with the next two days and bill it as major medical so that they did not have to prescribe because the first time when they did prescribe  it was 300,00.  Just based on principle alone I wasn't doing that again.  Now...something to check out.  We did some major research and the generic "should" be available possibly as soon as this month.  The Patent on this drug expired the end of the year.  They can get delayed sometimes but check it out.  It will drop the cost down to somewhere around 40-60 bucks as oppossed to 300.00 for me.

Shaved my head short today and will let it fall out naturally from here to hopefully avoid the razor burn stuff.  I have been using baby shampoo also and am having no problems except that now I need to take my wigs back to the wig gal and have them retrimmed as they fit differently and all of them are way too long in the bangs. I also think I need a couple or lessons to make things easier.

Have a great Monday and I am thinking of all of you that are in treatment this week as I know how depressing it is to take that step backwards...but remember it is that much closer to completion.

Leigh

I haven't posted anything lately, but religiously read all the posts on here. I have my third AC this Tuesday and am not looking forward to it.  I had alot of nausea this last round on days 3-6 and then caught a virus/flu and am still coughing.  My husband took me into emergency on Thursday morning @ 5:030 am as my cough was so bad.  No fever, but didn't sound good and it was hard to breath.  I was treated royally in emergency and they checked my heart, my lungs, took blood tests, and everything was clear and my blood counts were normal.  I was just very sick.  The oncologist I saw the next day for a pre-chemo appointment put me on antiobitics and prescribed Emend for the nausea. I finally feel semi okay for the first time since my last chemo.  But after this next one I will almost be finished DD AC and then onto 4 DD taxol.  I hope everyone had an okay New Year.

On tx 3 of 12 on Taxol.  For me, definitely easier than the A/C.  Get infused on Mnday. Thurs. seems to be lousy day last 2 tx.  Just really tired and achy.   A/C is like a really bad flu and Taxol feels like a cold, if that analogy makes any sense?  Just a note on the whey protein, read label for soy, i avoid like the plague. I still do the baking soda rinses cause I don't want to find out I need to do them!!! 

I'll have my 3rd DD A/C tomorrow.  I finally got my buzz cut on the afternoon of New Years Eve.  Out with the old - literally!  Funny how some on here were told 14 days to lose hair, and my onc said by New Year's Day and she was right( 24 days)!  Is it because I am brown hair/eyes so it lasts longer?

  I had a slow recovery from round 2 mostly because of having my port removed, picc line placed in arm, and being on vanco antibiotics this whole time (I'm still on it, 2x day).  I made it through Christmas then slept for 3 days.  My body aches after shot seem to be right around day 4 and 5, all around my shoulders and neck.  I take the claritin (not D) for 4 or 5 days - I think it helps.  I got a nice neck warmer for Christmas that you put in the microwave - really helps the aches. 

I see 3 of now have been hospitalized.  Lets keep it there and not add any more! 

Tired, no appetite, and everything smells bad is worst SE.  I have taken anit-nasua meds as needed and they do help.  Even water smells bad to me so it is now a struggle to get in the water we are supposed to have,  I have tried Crystal light but even the smell of those gets to me.  Craving carbs comes from the steroids.  so does being very weepy for a couple of days after the steriod dose.   A good note is I have finally dropped coffee in the morning (makes me gag now) and have switched to tea.  Something I have been wanted to do for a couple of years now and now it is done.  Go figure!  I wish for all a happy, healthy, and much better 2011 than 2010 was.  God bless all.

Hi to all....

That is so funny that everyone feels that push to be "ready".  I have been telling people that it is like cramming 2 weeks of to do's into 4 days.  I just finished paying bills and have my mental list of things for tomorrow night.  Spent yesterday cooking as my mother in law is having knee surgery on the 18th and her other half does not cook.  Trying to have a freezer full of meals prepared to help out.

Good luck to everyone this week sounds like a whole bunch of us are over half through this part of the journey.  Trying to visualize Taxol as a minor inconvenience.

Leigh

UGH!  I ate a chili cheeseburger and deep fried pickles today........ long time since i ate a hamburger..... it is sticking around if you know what i mean!!!!

nolaa, rachel2, lindaa and hdangelbaby, sending you positive vibes today!  Hopefully all goes smooth and with not so many SE. You girls can do it!

Last nite I had a meltdown after trying to hold my hair back in a pony tail, a good bunch of hair fell out   It's starting now, on day 13 post chemo.. buaaah! So NOT ready! I wonder if any of us was actually ready for it anyways. Lindaa and ling, I also have dark hair/eyes and seems to be the rule of day 14 post chemo.  Question, I dunno if it's just me or my imagination but I do feel my head a bit sore, could it be related tol the hair falling out?

Also, baby is sick she has a bit of croup which might be normal for other babies at this time of the year. But since but she is a prem baby, we have to go to doctor's today to check how to clear her throat. It's snowing out there and lucky us is not that cold, only -4°C. This is gonna be her first time out since he arrived home 3 weeks ago! I know I know, might sound kinda crazy that we barricade ourselves home all this time, but tempreatures lately have not help much: an average of -15°C and here the rule is "no babies out if it's lower than -9°C".

Hope the rest of the group is doing fine...

Good luck to all of the gals having treatment today!! I could not sleep last night for anything. got about 3 hours of sleep. im sure the ativan in the IV today will help with that!

Nolaa, thanks for the advice on the cough syrup.  I live in Canada, but I will try and track some down.

Had my 3rd treatment DD AC today and so far just feel a little drugged.  Hope it went okay for you, Nola, hdangelbaby and Linda.

Joystars, I hope your baby is doing better and you too.

Tomorrow is day 14 post chemo so I guess I should be ready for the hair to start falling out. I have dk hair and eyes too. I have noticed other areas where the hair has started to fall out. Noticed that this morning in the shower. My head has been incredibly itchy the past few days. I hope that settles down once the hair is gone.

Hi All - just checking in after taking a break for a few days.  Had the last dose of my first cycle last Thursday and got my first Neulasta treatment along with it.  I was a bit anxious about that but it hasn't been too bad - achy neck and shoulders yesterday and today and I've been obsessing a bit about whether there are swollen lymph nodes that could be cancer spread, but after reading other posts I think maybe it's still the Neulasta - this is Day 5 after the shot. 

I am also in 'to do' mode, getting all the laundry caught up and thank you notes written before next week when I expect to be much less productive.  Also hoping to get to the wig shop soon....the combo I'm taking doesn't cause total hair loss, but significant thinning which is what I'm experiencing.  I hope to try and work on the weeks that I am not getting drugs and I think I want something to wear there - hoping I can find something that doesn't look too fake - maybe that's not realistic if I don't want to spend a ton of money - will have to see.

Hope everyone is doing well with minimal SE's!

dlcw

Joystars-

My head definitely was itchy before it started falling out, and then it started hurting...like it was sunburned. That was when the majority came out. I cut mine short, but couldn't stand how much was coming out in my hands and getting into everything so I  had my husband buzz it off. I have stubble now.

I go from scarves to soft knit hats to my wig...depending on where I am and how I feel.

I had to take my son to the emergency room about 5 days ago (his airways closed up while running at practice) and I had a scarf on and my husbands bomber jacket on. He said "You look like a motorcycle mama!" I did laugh at that! He is thirteen, so I hear whatever his thoughts are-he hasn't learned yet (but is getting the idea) not to keep some of his observations to himself!

I hope everyone is doing well. Treatment went well yesterday - it's a full day in boston - didn't get home until after 6.  I watched Clash of the Titans w/ parents afterward (they live next door) then I went to bed.  I'm on a new IV fluid drip today because DH complained I wasn't drinking enough water.  Doc says 1 liter day after is most important.  She said those who live local go in for their shot and to get hydrated the day after.  So since I have this picc line might as well make use of it. 

Hope: watch the meltdowns - besides all of the emotions we go through, the steriods do funny things to you.  When I was on taxol my steriods were double what they are  now and I went through a 'roid rage' period.  Very cranky and snippy.  Now I have my weepy days which seems to hit a couple of days when I'm done with the dose.  They also make me crave carbs and comfort foods (when I can get anything past my nose)

Sun - I am shocked a judge allowed you ex to do this to you in the midst of a critical illness.  I don't know the legals but you should have been allowed to stay on his medical until something else came up for you.  Can you talk to a lawyer or patient advocate?  In the meantime, breathe deep and try to meditate - it really helps during these stressful times.

hdangel, A few of you have mentioned taking ativan under the tongue, is this to help with nausea instantly? I have been given ativan to try to help with sleeping, doesn't work through the night, wondering if I should be taking it by putting it under my tongue instead of swallowing it with water.  

Linda, where in boston do you go?  my onc is affilitated with Dana Farber, is there once a week, and then more locally to me (only 20 minutes away thank goodness) the rest of the week,  so I feel lucky to have a Dana farber oncologist working also at my local cancer center. 

Today, I'm so ready for this to be over.  Two more people I know diagnosed with breast cancer, luckily neither of them need chemo, lumpectomy and rads.  And although I am so greatful for them, I am envious, I have to admit it. but I really am happy they don't need the chemo.

Is it summer yet?

JoAnn

hdangel, do you take the claritin like many here? I don't get neulesta, I just got monitored for one month, and onc doesn't give it to me, just tests my blood on the day of chemo now.  I have to tell her if I get sick/feel like I'm getting thrush or any other infections..so far so good.  I am so jealous about you sleeping...I never get more than 6 hrs a night, no naps during the day, and usually I wake up evey four hours even after taking 2 ativan!!  I need to ask for the heavy duty stuff to sleep!!  glad you got rest and nausua was gone!! hope the next few days go well.