2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

((Graycie & Mary Ann))

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! As always support is wonderful here!!!

My by-pass surgery is now scheduled for Jan. 16 but still don't know when I can see my Onc. I called his office again today to let them know when the surgery will be. I was told they would relay the info to him when he checks in. I wanted to know if I should see him before or after the 16th. But he's still gone until mid-next week so....

No Mary Anne....I'm not 60 yet!! *lol* Working on getting there though!!!

All of this actually began when I was 40 and had a heart attack!! Guess I got a lot of mother's genes: Early menopause, vascular stuff, etc. The only thing with no history is the BC!!! How ironic!!

I feel better today as far as the depression goes....now if I could just get some snow with all those positive ions for me!!!

Yes, it's been a really rocky year...I'm praying for 2006 to bring some resolution for all of us here. I never prayed for the BC to go away or disappear. I knew that had to be interactive and pro-active.

The one thing I did pray for was to keep my eyebrows and lashes and strangely enough, they have remained!!

Keep your fingers crossed that my Onc will be able to figure something out when he returns from his holidays...

many hugs & thanks,
kate

Hi ladies,
just thought i check in and say hi to all wonderful October sisters...
Gosh, i really am lagging behind all of you - I have done 3 chemos, with one more to go, and i am done (no Taxol for me)! Wow, does the time fly... i never thought i get as far as this. I cant wait for the last one on 12 Jan.. For some very strange reason just the thought of the chemo room makes me feel nauseus, although i have NOT experienced a minute of nausea with any of the treatments.

Chemo #3 was pretty much the same as other two - really tired for about 4 days, and then, just like that, back to normal, just in time for post-christmas sales!
I am finding it hard to drink water now, i have no idea why, it doesnt taste off or anything, i just have this strange aversion to it, so i have to have it hot, with honey and lemon. I am craving healthy foods, fruits and veggies, thats good i suppose.
My sparse stubble continues to grow, and it looks very weird. I have this fine hair standing up all over my head. I look like i've stuck my finger in the power point...
Plus hair on my legs continues to grow happily. At least i get some respite from underarm and bikini hair.
I miss my hair badly... its a hot hot summer here in OZ, and wearing scarves to the beach is NOT a great idea. I keep looking at everyones lucious locks, and am terribly envious. I cant even swim properly!!! Couldnt afford to lose that scarf in the water now, could i???

Well, thank for listening to my rambling,

hugs to everyone doing the hard battle, we'll get there one day!

take care,
Paula

Hello to everyone!
I've been home from my first Taxol treatment for about 2 hours. My prayers were answered and I did NOT have any adverse reaction to the treatment. Other than extreme boredom! I was at the treatment center from 10:30 to 5:30. I had to have the preliminary blood test, be checked out by the NP, and then wait while the orders were entered and drugs mixed up in the pharmacy. They don't do this until the medical team tells them I am good to go. All those steps got delayed because the NP was running more than an hour late in her appointments. I finally got into the treatment barcalounger at 1 o'clock. I had an hour of the pre-meds, then started Taxol at 2:05. The only hitch was when I began to eat a cookie given me by one of the volunteers, I coughed part of it into my windpipe, got all red in the face and really started coughing. All the nurses came running thinking I was having a reaction. I just held up the cookie package and kept gagging. Finally, the piece of cookie came up and the excitement was over. My nurse laughed and said, "Thank God you're just choking." We were all laughing about my "cookie reaction." So, now I feel okay. A little tummy tenderness, like all my other chemo days, but no nausea. Yeah!!!! But, I still have the Decadron in my system. We'll see how tomorrow goes. I plan on going to work with my Compazine and pain pills tucked in my bag. Weather is mild, for western New York, near Rochester. I think it will be an okay day.

I'm wondering about ravdeb from Israel who was also starting Taxol today. Sure hope she is doing okay.

Take care everyone. Hope you are all doing well. Happy New Year!

Hello to Graycie, Amy and all the October chemo sisters! I haven't been here in a while and I have missed it!

I had my first Taxol a week ago and will have my 2nd. next Wednesday. The first 4 days were bad. Severe body aches, fatigue and sore fingers and toes. But I am feeling better.
Graycie, did you have Taxol #2 yet?
Amy, did you have Taxol #3 yet?
The 4 hour infusion was long - but I wrote, addressed and stamped 97 Christmas cards (list was longer this year as I had to include every person who sent me a get well card after the ol' mastectomy). So, the time was well spent, I actually felt a great sense of accomplishment. I still have to get a shot of Arasept (?) every other week to increase the rbc's because they are way too low if not down right non-existant. But, bye-bye Neulasta-I will not miss you!
I skimmed through the last 4 pages of posts and it felt good to read that everyone - for the most part - is doing okay. It's good to be back. Now, I have to work on getting a CURRENT photo taken for posting. Can't decide if I should be really daring and have it taken bald or have it taken wearing a scarf or hat. Hmmmmm...have to think about that one.
Belated Merry Christmas/Hanukkah and Happy New Year to all.

Laura (GTO)

My first Taxotere is Jan 10- had last FAC last week. Just recovering from three days of ++ fatigue, insomnia, severe heartburn , diarrhea and general ickiness. Tax sounds a little better from your posts.
Finally bought some fat clothes this week, I am sick of seeing my newly acquired roll so have moved up a size and clothes are more comfortable. I am really really going to try to lose this in Jan , have never had extra weight unless pregnant so it is really bugging me. I can't control my hair or my lack of a breast but surely I can get the 10 pounds I gained off. At first I was exercising regularly but this last month I don't have the energy to do it, or so I've thought. Anyone else slacking on their exercise?
Glad all went well Merrymelodi, I'm worried about reactions as I tend to get them too.
Laura I am skipping a lot of beats but I do that when stressed so I hope my MUGA will be fine. I don't want any delays if possible.
I am off to pick up my breast prosthesis which I ordered last week. It will be good to be more confident that my beast won't pop out at any moment.It is rainy and windy today, a good day to curl up with a book and sip coffee when I get back.
Fists up!

Mary Anne, I am also slacking in the exercise department. I have good intentions but I just don't have the energy. I did do the treadmill for 1/2 hour yesterday but then was exhausted. My clothes still fit the same which I can't figure out because I don't eat much. I would also like to lose 10 lbs that I put on before I got sick which I will try to do after chemo when I am a little healthier. No more junk food..I still think that is how I got cancer. Graycie

I love my new prosthesis and bras. It is so much better than what have been stuffing in bra. It feels like a breast and is about the right weight. It can also be stuck on chest so can wear my own bras or a bathing suit without fear of it popping out. My drug plan covered two bras and prosthesis 95% so only cost me $20.
One of the ladies on my Stage three thread developed bone mets a few months ago and is now too sick for more chemo and entered palliative care... what a stupid stupid disease. I hope I never have to face that and if I do I will be the strong brave type. I hope her family is able to help her through this difficult part of her journey.
Maybe we should have a round of bald pics this week and switch to wig or whatever next week...

Hi Graycie!
Thanks for worrying about little ol' me. Wow, you only have 2 Taxols left! Yippy for you. Sounds as though you're doing okay so far. That is great! No matter how bad the side effects, etc. are, I remind myself that it could always be worse. As for posting a picture, I read in earlier posts that some of the girls here went to www.onlineimageresize.com or www.resize2mail.com. I have photo software on my computer that I used (it's called PhotoShop - if you have it and still need help let me know). I imported my photo by going to the purple box near the top of this page and clicking My Home - then scrolled down to MAIN CONFIGURATION - then Personal Info - then edit you then need to click on Upload Your Avatar and follow it from there. Hope this helps - if you need more help PM me and I will help you further.
Happy New Year!
Laura (GTO)

Kate - hang in there, I hope your surgery goes well. It's great that you haven't lost your brows and lashes!
Paula - How about a cute baseball hat to wear at the beach? I envy you for being able to go to a beach! It is really cold and blustery here in the Midwest. Felt a little better today so I bundled up and spent the day outside with my chainsaw cutting trees down (dead ones) on our property to be used as firewood in our fireplace.
Brenda - Yippy! I'm happy you're done with A/C! Best to you with your next journey - radiation.
Rosemarie - Good luck with the first Taxol and the move. Wow, FL to IN - you will need a warm winter coat! I hope you like the Midwest, most people are very friendly here.
Again - Happy New Year to all!
Laura (GTO)

Hi mary....
so kind to have thought of me...saw you on the other thread, too :-)
I returned energetic from that Taxol...dexamethesone is a wonder drug. Everybody here told me how wonderful I looked, energetic...even a bit hyper! But alas...I have crashed. Yesterday I couldn't get my weary body off the sofa and today I wondered how I was going to get out of bed. Of course, I'm up outa bed wondering where this day will lead me. Fatigue has hit hard. While on Ac I would get up and walk every day for an hour, combatting the anoying fatigue. It worked wonders. But after my bout with a bacterial infection that left me with reactive arthritis, I can't get myself to walk that energetic hike. I can barely get up and down the stairs, though admittedly, my knees are better, relatively speaking. My real pains are in my hands...no strength at all and can't open jars, etc...I can type, though cuz there's no twisting! thank goodness for that. still...my hands hurt more after a bout on the discussion board and a dig into my e-mailing but a person has gotta live!!!!!
I wish you all a happy and healthy new year. I look at it this way...by summer I will be done with this stuff...oh please make that be true!!!!!
ravdeb

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tda866,
Hope your Muga goes well! My aching fingers are crossed for you!
Laura (GTO)

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Thanks for the good wishes. I got the results on Saturday and my heart function is reduced from 66% down to 49% so my chemo is postponed until I see the cardiologist. Hopefully they can sort it out with some medication so I can get this episode behind me. Nothing before its time, eh?!

Hi everyone,
Well, I was lucky so far with side effects on A/C. Not too bad overall. But, now I have been struck with the pain of Taxol. It is very painful for me. Everywhere from toes to waist aches with random zingers of more intense pain. I was surprised that even the "sitting bones", as my yoga teacher called them, are aching, even in my groin area. One of my friends commented that it was like after having a baby. I never had the experience so I cannot say if that is true. Also, my forearms and hands are painful.

I have used ibuprofen during the day and found some decrease in the pain, but it is still definitely there. Last night I took 2 vicodin and was able to sleep for a while. This is by far the worst I have felt on this chemo journey. I also had a larger dose of decadron in my pre-meds and it kept me up most of the night after the treatment so that on Friday I was exhausted at work. It has taken me all weekend to get rested, or as rested as I can be while in pain.

I have tried to keep a positive attitude so far, but today I am slipping. I sure hope this pain will be short-lived and that I can have a period of feeling better before the next infusion.

Ravdeb, Are you feeling any better? I hope so. I also feel the best when on the decadron but then I crash. Most of my pain is in the lower half though and I also have been experiencing restless leg syndrome. The pain lasted 3 days this time. 2 more Taxol's to go. It's funny as much as it hurt's, you do seem to forget about how bad it was when the pain goes away. Kind of like childbirth but atleast you get something good out of that. HA. Hang it there, like you said it will all be over soon...Graycie

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I too have had horrible msucle, bone pains since first treatment of Xeloda and Taxatere on Thursday, at first I thought maybe it was the nulasta but this has been so much worse than the other times,

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I am thinking the neulasta shots are probably making the pain worse. The nurse told me they are acummulative and so is the chemo. Hopefully your pain is short lived. Around 3 days for me but it was bad but I do have a low tolerance for pain.