February 2011 chemo pals

Good Luck tomorrow Jean and anyone else doing treatment! One step closer!

I have to say that I shaved my legs a few days ago and they are still as smooth as a baby's behind! I'm pretty happy about that! I also bought a wig, but haven't worn it yet. I feel like it's so obvious that I have a wig on. And everyone I see nowadays already knows so I've opted for scarves mostly. They're so comfy.

And I think I need to pop over to the other thread to read about this asparagus. I think I'm missing out! Night all!

Melanie

I hope not, lol!!!!!!  Go GREEN BEANS!!!!

Good Luck Jean.  I will have you in my thoughts today.

Jean  thinking of you today as you get your 3rd treatment.  I am on day 4 of mine and am very tired today... 

Hello Sisters,

It's been a while since I've posted, so I have lots to say.

My stomach pains, which had started out just at night on day 5, crept into the daytime hours and got progressively worse. The pain felt like really bad diarrhea cramps, but no diarrhea, so I couldn't take diarrhea medicine to get any kind of relief. My oncologist had me stop taking Zofran (I thought I kept needing to take it) and recommended Tums and a hot water bottle. That was no help. By day 10, I was cramping just about every 10 minutes. I went to the doctor, I was diagnosed with gastritis and given the equivalent of Pepcid. It helped! 

My super oily skin turned into full-on, all-over-my-face-acne. Ugh. Such an injustice, to be 41 and having to smear Clearasil all over my face. At first I thought it was a rash, but figured out quickly that they were pimples. And my oily skin turned super, super dry. Thankfully it has cleared up. I really, really did not want to be bald AND zitty.

Which takes me to the next part of my post. But oh, wait, I also got my period. I'm guessing the breakout had to do with that. This will probably be my last period for a while, I'm thinking...

I buzzed my hair on Sunday, day 13. The guys in my life (dad, brothers, son and boyfriend) wanted to buzz their hair the same day I did, so we planned it for Sunday. Funny thing is, that morning, I was having second thoughts about buzzing it, thinking I wanted to enjoy my hair for as long as I could. But then by noon, my hair started coming out when I ran my fingers through it. So it turned out to be the day to do it anyway. I was okay with it.

It turned out to be more memorable than emotional. I buzzed everyone's hair, then I was the grand finale. Except for that last minute hesitation, I had actually been kind of wanting to get it over with. I'm glad I did it. I'm hoping I can stay this upbeat about it when it all starts to fall out and I am actually bald-bald. Getting ready in the morning is a breeze, I'm using WAY less shampoo and conditioner (yeah, I'm conditioning the stubble!) and I think I would even consider going commando, except my head (and neck and ears) get cold really easily. As it is, I've been wearing beanies and baseball caps. I get my wig made next Wednesday.

MELANIE:  Yes, I know what you mean about food on chemo day. I have found that to this day, the thought of the food I ate on that day (oatmeal from Jamba Juice and a Smashburger) makes me say UGH, UGH, UGH and I fight back gagging. Weird.

Oh, one more thing. I have a brownie. A "brownie." For when maybe I lose my appetite, or don't feel so hot. Has anyone tried anything like this?

Love and light,

Liza 

Hi Everybody,

Hope you don't mind my jumping in late.  This seems like a pretty good board, good jokes and supportive and all.

I started chemo February 16 and had second chemo yesterday, March 1.  I'm getting infusions of epirubicin and cytoxan four times, two weeks apart.  Then 12 injections of taxol.  So far the nausea from the infusions hasn't been very bad.  The first night I don't try to cook or eat much and get into the sweat pants early in the evening.  I did take dexamethasone (steroid) for the nausea, for four days last time.  This time the oncologist just said to take it the night after chemo, then only Zofran if I need anything.  The main SE for me is lack of energy the first few days.

So this is day 16 after starting chemo and my hair hasn't started falling out.  I went and cut my shoulder-length hair to a short pixie cut as soon as having chemo was definite.  It's been fun to try a short style.  When it falls out I plan on getting by with scarves and hats. Wigs seem like they'd be too hot and scratchy for my lifestyle.  This afternoon the ladies at my church are having a "scarf party" for me.  I've been so grateful for all the support and caring I've gotten, both in real life and here from you ladies who are actually going through this.  It's good to hear both from the women who are having a really hard time from the chemo and those who are not having it so rough.  Everybody (every body) is so different, and I'm sorry for those going through the really bad stuff and pray it gets better for you.  My philosophy is to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  

Good wishes to all - Carolyn 

Hello my fellow fighters... I am sorry, I cannot read through all the posts... I missed out so much the past four days... My first A/C was on Monday... and it hours later I was hit by a tornado of nausea and throwing up... I had to go to the ER for more fluids and plazil (don't know what that is)--- to stop the vomitting... Days 2 and 3 were awful minus the throwing up--- It was so difficult getting through the day.... I am blessed with so many loving women in my life helping with the children while DH is away...yet... I had to drag myself to see the boys off to school in the morning, welcome them when they got back..and tuck them into bed at night... other wise I was a pack of bones lying in bed all day... Today, I feel I have resurfaced back to earth... Today.. morning sickness is heavens to me... in comparison to what I went through the past three days.. I am not sure whether it is already over..or the morning sickness medicine that I started to take yesteraday did the trick.... I am eating in small portions... drinking this AMAZING natural aloe vera juice which is really helping with the mouth dryness and the metalic taste... But what I cannot handle is the odor that is coming out of my body!! uuuuuuughhh... Three showeers a day are not doing the trick... I don't know what to do about it... but I have to say... I am just counting my blessing that I am able to sit down and work on my laptop... Mary/M1nn1e we haven't heard from you and I am soooooooooo worried about you as you have started the same day I did... I certainly hope you are doing better than I am!!! HUGS to all of you lovely ladies out there...

Salma

Thanks-- thefuzzylemon... I can't wait for all of us to come through on the other side!

thefuzzylemon:  My brother's girlfriend bought the brownie for me from a "dispensary." She and my brother tried one out; they each had a little bit and it was pretty potent. I've never done anything in my life, so I want to try it out before I actually need it. My boyfriend and I might try it tonight. )

I asked my oncologist about it. His words were, "I have no problem with a brownie. Absolutely no problem."

MELANIE: I hear you about not having to take any more medicine than I have to. IBS was also another thing they were going to consider if the Pepcid didn't help. I'm so grateful that it worked because not being able to get any relief from the cramps was the pits! Thanks for the heads up.

Love and light (and maybe a brownie!),

Liza 

TAC, Start Date: 2/15/11, 1/6, Day 16 and feeling great 

Man I wish Florida was a "medical" brownie state.

Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.  Not that I am keeping track, or anything.....

ROAD TRIP!!!

HAHA!

Oh my gosh I am laughing and crying at the same time right now!! hold on, need a tissue! Thank you all for being HERE!!!

So, just got home from treatment number 2, I was guilted into figuring out that I have ACx4, then taxolX4, make sense? (I am just way too laid back and carefree for my friends and husband, but am going to try a little harder to pay attn. to what's going on...I am feeling good now...was very tired at the hospital and ready for a nap, but my anti-nausea hyper drup is jickin' in about now! I will make a good dinner tonight and then hubby is in charge next three!

So much to comment on here...

Pejkug: I think I read it takes about 6 mos. for it to grow back so I think we will be extremely sexy by Christmas! I agree with you about the anticipation  thing and discussed this w/friends yesterday. I said I almost feel like I ought to just shave it off now insyead of worrying about when it's going to come out, it did start falling out last night though so I gather by next week it will be gone completely. I'm not sure if I should cut it short now or what...a friend of mine said he will bring over his clippers as long as he can shave shapes and stuff into my head...sounds like fun to me!! Def. gonna try out the mihawk too Mel-Ann!! I got some very cute scarves, but I feel nauseous whenever I look at the wig I have (I must add that both my 14 year old and 8 year old sons look very cute in it!!!)

Jean: I did get my period and had worse PMS pains, especially in the boobs-like I need more pain and soreness there! But it was lighter and lasted less days than usual. and ooohh...I didn't think about the spring wind/wig situation...I am picturing myself in the wal-mart parking lot with the wig whipping off my head and flying off under some car!!

Ney Ney: there are lots of places to buy the wig liners on line, TLC from the ACS is one, but I also read somewhere someone mentioned the sports caps (you see footballs players wearing them sometimes), I would imagine you could get one in a sports store, I'm going to check that out...might be nice to wear to bed for stubble and stuff too...

Mel-Ann: foods, my eating has been really weird, day 1 have major munchies, day 2-eat normal more or less but not much appetite, day 3-5 don't want to eat much at all...then pretty much normal except that I have been eating really spicy stuff! I read that almonds and dried fruits are great b/c of the fiber so I stocked up on those...

Lisa..thx for the pic, your post is what started me crying and then smiling and then laughing as I read on...isn't it funny that we are all here b/c we have breast cancer and the biggest concern that we have all talked about really is our hair (at least we know how to put things in perspective!

So, other than that I have had a sore throat as some of you have mentioned, Dr. checked it today and it is ok...I teach 4th and 5th grade and had a scare yesterday when a student came in and said his arm was sore from shots he got on Mon. Turned out he had chicken pox vaccine!! After some sctambling and calling the Dr. and stuff he says it should be fine as I had chicken pox already...too much to worry about!!!

Well sorry for the novel, hope nobody was really busy!! Luv u all, hang in there, prayers and thoughts go out to every one of you!!

So, I am now sportin' a super short haircut.  My friend came over and cut my hair off in sections that she is sewing onto velcro to use in hats.  I have no idea if this will actually work, but my hair is SHORT.  I have never had short hair.

I have to admit, I haven't even looked at it yet.  I touched it, cried and then crammed a hat on my head for the rest of the day.  Maybe I'll be brave and look at it tomorrow.  So far, I haven't taken off the hat.  My husband hasn't asked to see it.  My kids have though.

I've had a headache for three days and apparently Mexican food wasn't a good idea for today's lunch.  My stomach has been sending regular distress signals every since.

I'm so glad to have you ladies to walk this journey with me. 

I have to laugh about the "brownies" - I've had three different firends tell me that they have connections in case I need anything down the road.  lol 

Well  tomorrow is treatment  #3.   I have to stay positive that its gonna be as good as the 2nd treatment.  I dont want a repeat of the !st treatment.

Well I am about bald.  Im getting used to it.  Im loving the mornings of no hair do to do.  I can spend more time on other things. 

Good night all and take care.!