anyone starting chemo in Nov 2005

Hi ladies, Lana, glad you are back posting and sorry about the constipation. Guess we all figure out after the first treatment what we need to do differently for the next. I messed up with taking the anti-nausua meds the night of the first treatment and was sick for five hours. Next Monday I will take my nasua meds earlier. Kaye, sorry you are having a rough time. I really hope it goes better for you next week. I'll be thinking of you. I got some good news today. I had genetic testing done for the brac1 and brac2 gene due to my family. The results were negative so I get to keep my ovaries. I am most happy about it for my daughters, age 20 and 26. They at an increased risk (28%) of developing BC but that's not near what the risk would be if they carried the gene. Have had a pretty good week so far. Have quite a bit of energy and a really good appetite. Still hate the wig though.

Hi everyone-I am due for treatment #3 tomorrow. I am so bummed...I don't like that I feel normal, then have to go back to feeling crappy. I have had a ravenous appetite for the past few days, too. I lost a ton of weight last week, but it came right back on. I have also been enormously constipated this week, too.

My hair is almost completely gone. It was so weird, I went into the shower with head stubble, and came out without. Anyone getting any weird fears about their hair not returning??!?!?! I am starting to freak out about that.

I CAN'T wear my wig. I hate it with all of my heart, and I am just thankful that insurance paid for it, cuz otherwise I'd force myself to wear it if we paid for it!!! I was going to wear it on Sunday to church, but just couldn't.
I also got a cold in the past few days, and am still praying and crossing my fingers that I don't have a fever tomorrow. Otherwise, treatment is put off. ICK. We don't want that to happen!!!
Lots of hugs, Debbie

Hey everyone,
Liz, that is good news about the brac 1 and brac 2 gene results. You all must be relieved. I hate my wig also. I got one at a salon and still had hair when I tried it on. Well, now that I have a buzz, it is still too small. Rides up in the back. It is a totally different style that my hair was and although I think I can get used to it, it is small. I ordered one online and it came in looking nothing like it did in the picture. I am going to take it to my stylst and see what she can do. I may just order another one I saw in the Paula Young catalog. It was only $39, so it won't be too much of a loss. I like my baseball caps. Debbie, thinking of you today. I hope you are feeling better today and can get your treatment.

hugs,Kim

Yep, we are getting that storm here in Northeast PA. First "real" storm of the year. Guess the kiddies won't have school tomorrow.

Hope Debbie is feeling good today and able to get treatment.

Kim

I will be getting my third treatment on Tuesday, I have had a lot of pain in my back. And the Neulasta really gets to me. I have to stay down for longer than I want to. But when I do get back on my feet, I'm all over the place. I was up hours the other night, had 4 hours of sleep in 48 hours. I finally took a sleeping pill. Guess I just was sick of the bed.

I'm so glad my children are grown, I sleep when I want as long as I need to. Which helps a great deal. I'm going tomorrow for a wig fitting, I will feel a lot warmer, I'm sure. Virginia is cold in the mountains Burrrrr

I did the buzz cut as soon as the first hair started to fall. The whole thing is on tape, with family and friends. I have not watched it yet. I think I will wait till this is all over. While I recover with my "NEW BOOBS" would be a wonderful time!

I Wanted to take back my power.And that was my way of doing it, I'm here to fight! I'm not giving in that easy.

Trust me I have had a few days that I was a cry baby. But a lot is going on, my father died in March of this year. So this is my first holiday season with out him. I was a daddy's girl...even at 49

My husband has been so wonderful taking care of everything, I'm blessed to have him. Just wanted to wish you all the best, and may the new year bring us good health and strong wills.

Love Mary Lou

Hello everyone,

Had my 2nd Chemo today/4 more to go.... They told me my blood work looked great.... forgot to pick up my miricle mouth wash from the pharmacy and I will have to go back to take my nulasta shot Saturday.....took my Zofran tablet and will take a compazine before I go to bed. Oh, I did get the same nurse (Pam R) she was incredible. She ask me what year I was born and we were born the same year.
When it was over (1.5 hours) we left the hospital (cold today) My hubby and I stopped and bought me a great wig for me at a place called MiMis' here in DAllas did some Christmas shopping. Now I am home eating dinner and drinking more water.

Be Blessed!
Grace

I have had 2 good days and hoping for a 3rd. The nights are when I am having trouble- can't sleep. The Dr. said to try Ambien so I did last night. Slept for 5 hours, but I don't feel like that's enough.
Regarding the "F', the dr. said if it becomes available, she will then add to the treatments. I have read alot of these messages, it looks like alot of women get only the C & A. So perhaps I don't really need the "F" but then why did she initially order it for me?? This is all so confusing! And it's hard to think straight! Then one of my margins was small and at first the Drs thought I should have radiation after chemo. Then they said the margin was in the okay range (o.13cm and 0.15 cm.) How does one know what to do?

Hi ladies.
It's good to see everyone is hanging in there and making lemons out of lemonade. The hair issue is tough. I too wonder will it ever grow back and how soon! I'm wearing my wig (after much resistance on my part). I got it to match my hair color but with a longer look. I've received many compliments. Folks think I got a new hairdo. The folks that know it's a wig, also think it looks natural. I tell them I've lost my hair, but not my spirit!

lat56. Did you have a lumpectomy? I was told lumpectomy must be followed by radiation. Also, sometimes the margins are not clear and surgeon may need to go back for a re-excision (re-lumpectomy). There is a lot of information on breastcancer.org about margins. Also, ask your doctor what are their measurement guidelines for a "clear" margin. I learned that different labs/healthcare facilities have different guidelines on the size of margins. My doctor made it very clear that small (dirty) margin does not mean you still have cancer; it may mean they cut "too close for comfort". It happens sometimes, no fault on the surgeon.

BTW-This is what happened to me and I had to go back for a re-lumpectomy. Second time around was better and the path report showed no cancer. Just like the doctor predicted. Hope this info helps.
Hang in there. It's a lot of information to take in at once.

Let's keep up our spirits my sister warriors...it's the best ammunition we've got.

Odalys

Thanks Odalys for the margin info. The radiation oncologist did explain to me that different hospitals have different safety margins. I met the safety requirement here.
After just one treatment,chemo fog has been a real issue for me also. My memory is shot and sometimes the whole thought process is gone. It is a very strange feeling.
My hair has just started falling out. I did get a wig this past week and I like it better than my own hair! I've always had fine, thin hair. But the wig does feel awkward. I imagine it will take time to get used to it.
I just got my computer yesterday. What a blessing to find this message board!! Thanks everyone for sharing!!
God Bless.

Hi Everyone. I started a long post the other night, and decided to scroll back and check someones comment, and lost my whole report!! So scraped it and went to bed! Now I take notes, on things I want to include in my post, as a reply to people.

I had my P/S appt last tuesday, to pick out my new boobs! I wanted to stick to the original size, 38C. The doctor was young, good looking, and sort of arrogant. He asked me what I had in mind, and I told him after a lot of research, I knew I wanted either DIEP or FREE TRAM. I gave him my reasons, and he told me, he didnt think my reasons were good enough, to warrant a severe surgery with long recovery!!! Whose body is this anyway?? After almost killing him, and being near tears, he did an exam, measured both breasts, up/down/sideways. Had my lie on the table, then pulled my stomach together from one side to the other. Told me he wanted his partner to come in for an exam. The partner, older, short, heavy, balding, came in squeezed my stomach together from side to side, and reached up, held my hand, and said. "I am sorry to tell you this, but you are just not fat enough to get 2 full size C's..but I can get two really full B's" He was so sweet and smiling, I loved him. I said, OKIE DOKIE, B'S IT WILL BE! So much better bedside manner than the young whippersnapper! That was a long tiring day, and the first day I wore my wig, after shaving down my hair to 1". My poor scalp was killing me when I got home, the wig was rubbing all day long, on the sore spots. I really wish i had shaved it all off. The bending of the little hairs hurts the scalp, under the wig. I had to go out that evening to an eastern star event, and had to put the wig back on, but put on a sleep cap under, and that helped. A lot more hair has come out, but still have more than I would imagine for the loss i keep finding in the drain, and inside the hats i wear to bed. My girlfriend is coming back to shave the rest. Hopefully that will ease the scalp pain.

Wednesday I had a CT scan. I was nervous, because my bloodwork 3 weeks ago, at 1st chemo day, showed elevated liver function. i did not tell anyone, or panic over it for the 3 weeks, but was nervous on scan day. Turns out, all is fine, no mets to liver. THANK YOU JESUS! Must have been too high tylenol use, instead of pain meds, after surgery. Also showed a slight amount of pnemonia (sp), which would explain the change in voice and deep cough/cold symptons I had. I blamed the steroids!!!

Thursday was A/C #2, all went well. My girlfriend and mom took me in. I have decadron (steroid for nausea), zofran to take morning and night for 3 days, with compazine and ativan as needed. Doctor recommened i do use the ativan, as last time around I had sleep issues, so i am doing that. I havent been sick at all, a little queasy a few times in the day time, but the companzine does the trick. I am eating light, soup, english muffins, crackers, etc. I feel good. I slept a lot wednesday-friday, and then yesterday was fine, and did a million errands, then went to a christian christmas concert last night at my church..it was wonderful.

Marylou, hang in there, 1st holidays after losing a loved one are always the worst. I went thru all that last year, after losing my husband. Now this year I have BC. Seems GOD believes me to be a strong woman, and I am fighting hard to prove HIM right. you will do the same....keep praying and a postive attitude helps a lot.

Debbie, that is awesome, the church has been helping out with Daniel. What good people there are surrounding us all. You must pump the water, water. The best thing for your body is to flush out the toxins of chemo, to feel better faster.

Lat56, Welcome, glad you found our November boards. Lots of good info here, and support round the clock.

Kaye, I am glad you are starting to feel a little up again, after being down so many days. I agree, and am praying this stuff is indeed 'killing those little bugger cells'.

Everyone, enjoy your Sunday. it is sunny and cold here south of Boston, we got a nasty snow,rain,ice mess on Friday, from here to capecod. driving is good now, but hard to cleanup because everything froze over with the rain on top...ugh....New England winter is upon us. Love, hugs, and prayers to all.....LynnZ

Thanks Lynn, I will do my best. I did get my wigs yesterday. I think I will change my picture as soon as I take a new one with the "FAKE" hair. LOL

I will be so glad to get my new boobs, will be summer. I will do #3 on Tuesday....Yuck

Christmas is hard enough to get everything done, then you have to take time out to sleep the chemo away. Drinking is the trick. I feel really bad from the Neulasta, so I'm a bit worse then you are. But I will get through it. I don't really feel to well for about a full 4 days.

I have been making copies of pictures all day and framing them for my children. I did one with different pictures over the years for my boys.

I wanted them to have that, you never know when your time is up. It is a collage of pictures on a 8x10page. I put from age 2 till now. I'm going to add it to my web site sometime before Tuesday. If you want to take a peek. My web site is in my profile. It started out to be for weight watchers.

I will get back on track, just to hard to deal with now.

Thanks for the ps info. I hope I have a good experience. I have very large breast ( had ) and will be so glad to be smaller for one time in my life. There is a picture of me on that site, I was tiny, with big boobs. It was taken in 2000, before I was married the second time. (25 years the first time)

Strange, I never really knew what it was like to truly be loved by a man till these last 5 years with my husband.

I'm sooooo glad to have him going through the battle of a life time. I don't think I would have the fight if I was still with the ex.

God does bless us in such strange ways.

Take care and keep us posted...Email if you feel like it.

Mary Lou

Anna,
I can so relate to your fear. Hope treatment goes well for you today. Hang in there. There is nothing wrong with you. It's OK to feel nervous and frighten right before treatment, after all chemo drugs are very powerful. I think what your are feeling is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. If you believe in God (or in a higher power), please hang on. God will never abandon you. This too shall pass. Remember you’re a fighter!

I wish us all cancer survivors a pain and fear free day. A day full of hope, courage, kindness, Love, and good health. God bless us all.

Well I'm heading out in a few minutes for AC#2. Anna, I know how you feel. I don't feel sick before my treatment but do feel very nervous. I always worry there will be something wrong with my blood work and I won't be able to have my treatment. Took my temp this morning and it is a little high at 99.4. Hope I am not coming down with something. I have felt good this last week and now I know I will be starting it all over again. I just keep telling myself that these drugs are killing those little buggers. I always listen to my favorite CD's and I brought along a Christmas decorating/cookbook to look through so maybe it won't be so bad. I'll check in later tonight. Hope everything goes well for those having treatment this week. Liz

Treatment #3 went ok yesterday. I had a major hot flash from the Taxotere. They stopped it gave me an anit-inflammatory drug to alleviateit. I was fine then and they made the Taxotere drip slower. Then saw the onc. Had some good news. The redness around my right nipple is completely gone:). The mass in the right breast is measuring 8cm, not the 11cm it was measuring November 1. Oncologist words were that the Taxotere appears to be working. I am having a PET/CAT scan done on Dec. 27 to see if it is working on the spots on liver and lungs. We just keep praying for more good results. I am getting my nuelast shot soon and then the bone pain will probably set in. Hope you are all having a good day.
hugs./kim

Thanks Anna. We were feeling pretty good yesterday. Always looking for some positive things. Yep, the Taxotere is pretty strong, as with all these drugs,it is going to help us fight the figh.

Kim