Chemo June 2010

Haljen- Claritan is supposed to help with the neulasta/neupagen shots.  I'm allergic to antihystamines (go figure), so I opted to deal with the pain and not take it. 

He was prescribed oxycodone which he took throughout the night. Seemed to help, today he is achey and very fatigued. He did 15 minutes on the bike which I was hoping would help th fatigue. No go! He just went to lay down again. He just started running a fever. I gave him 2 extra strength Tylenol and will chek his temp in an hour. He would like to know if you just snap out of the fatigue or is it a slow process? Just realized it's a 2010 thread. Woopsy! Still glad to get all of your advice!

DMom...so glad you've been able to get away for some long overdue R&R. Enjoy!

Thanks for the birthday wishes ladies ! 

Dmom your summer place sounds wonderful now that all the hard stuff is done. 

Latte what a cool vacation !

I have another rash.  This one is on my chest above my chemoport scar.  GP says it seems to be allergy related.  I can't figure out what I would have touched to create a rash there.  Anyway I am to take more allergy meds, rub it with cream, and hope for the best.  This is the third or fourth rash since chemo finished. 

I am glad I am not the only one fighting the weird rash problem.  My GP told me to try to eat beets to help with my WBC.  I grew up on picked beets and now hate them.  she suggested I try fresh grated on top of a salad.  I didn't realize melatonin and Selenium and I odine are good for immunity.  Gotta do some shopping.

Bon-  Oooooh those beets sound fabulous!  You have my mouth watering!  I'm going to look for beets when I go to the store.  I am still fighting with our grill, hoping I can get it to heat up enought%$^&* machine.  Has anybody ever grilled beets?  I have grilled just about anything that isn't nailed down. 

DMom...Here is a link to grilling beets

http://localfoods.about.com/od/grilledsidedishes/qt/grilledbeets.htm

and here's another one for grilled beets with Rosemary vinegar.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/grilled-beets-in-rosemary-vinegar/Detail.aspx

I'm with you.  Anything grilled is great. But I'm a Nervous Nellie with gas so use charcoal.  Harder to control the temp but everything tastes so good.  Even the chocolate flavored marshmallows (made by Kraft) I found last month.You really don't have to eat them, They sat in the bag in my kitchen for about 10 days and the place smelled heavenly.

Bon-  Thanks for the links.  Yummmmy!  My &^%$#  gas grill won't heat over 325 degreesI.  I may blow it up if it doesn't blow me up with all the nonsense I have tried (new burner, new regulator etc...).  Maybe I will just remove the propane tank and dump old fashioned charcoal in there and call it a day!

Haljen-   Definitely stay in touch with your Onc, especially if he starts running a fever.  Be careful with giving Ibuprofen too much because it is very hard on the stomach and liver (and his liver is working overtime with chemo).  Never, ever give it on an empty stomach. Make sure he drinks tons of fluids, especially with a bladder infection.  If he can't handle water, find other things, even juicy fruits.  My favorite was watermelon.  I sure hope he can book out of work for a while.  He really needs to rest, he doesn't realize how hard his body is fighting.Oh!  If you do eat beets, be prepared for red urine.  It looks like blood, but is from beets.

Gin-  Good luck with the support group.  Once you slash that red tape you will run the best support group !  Thanks for the birthday hug. 

Bon-  Thanks for the grilling recipie.  I appreciate any recipies you can share. I really lack cooking skills.  I'm not sure why but I don't understand cooking or what makes things taste good.

Dmom-  I have a really bad relationship with our grill too.  If anything can go wrong with it, when I am cooking, it will.

Haljen-  I'm on the North shore of Long Island in Bayville.  Where is your husband getting chemo ?  I second whoever said your hubby should drink water.  Tell him to drink more fluid than he thinks is humanly possible.  I have a very low stress job and I simply could not work while I was on chemo.  I did go back during radiation.

Haljen-  So sorry he is having such bad SE.  What chemo is he taking?  Steroids can definitely cause skin problems, especially at the beginning.  A lot of people have break outs on their scalp when hair is lost.  Some find witch hazel very soothing, worth a try.  I have a feeling he is trying to be stoic and work through chemo, but he really may have to give in a rest and let his body deal with this fight. I did not have to take the Neulasta or Neupogen. Some people report less pain from Neulasta.  I know it is more expensive and insurance can contest it.  If he is having such pain from Neupogen, I think your doctor could request that he needs to try Neulasta.  It might be worth a discussion.

Haljen-  I have heard Great things about Dr Citron and wish I had used him.  My surgeon is with Pro Health.  I went with Oncology at LIJ was unhappy and switched to North Shore Glen Cove since it is close to home.

I am so sorry he is feeling bad.  I think it is harder for a spouse to watch than to actually go through it all.

Mimi- What a terrible biopsy experience !  Mine weren't that bad but after going through two I decided I would rather have a double mastectomy than ever do that again !  How did you get home after your biopsy.

kittykat so sorry about your friend. With all the great treatments we are able to get today it is so sad that we still lose some of our beautiful sisters to this cancer. Reminds us of how far we still have to go to beat this thing.

 mimi That is terrible the way you were treated at your biopsy. I can't believe they would be so insensitive. After my biopsy they did not say anything just wait for the results for two days. I was hoping it was nothing but still very scared and teary. Immeidately after they hooked me up with a nurse navigator to explain everything to me and to just talk. I spent a lot of time talking to her and crying and she walked with me down the elevator to the parking lot to eb sure I was ok to drive home. I ended up having to go to a different hospital to do my surgery and they had the same kind of support system there. Lots of people to talk to just to talk or ask questions and be my advocate. I feel so lucky to have had these women help me. I hope I can give back and help someone else some day that way.

All of you are so supportive.  After the  biopsy, I pulled myself together and went home.  My best friend came right over and we cried together for hours.  After all the other "stuff" I went through last year, the biopsy pales in comparison.  It feels like ancient history now.  But here I am a year and some later, at 60 yrs old, cycling for hours, working full time and loving it, quilting to my hearts desire and feeling well. For all the horror stories I could tell, I'm here and alive.  They did save my life. This group has been my life line.

Love to all of you, Mimi  ps, we need to think of a firm date for our spring fling next year.

Gin--You would make a wonderful mentor! I think there is a great meed for that--esp. after hearing some of the stories here!

Mimi--Sorry you had to go through that horrible experience--but look at you now!  Yes, definitely an inspiration!

Kitty--Sorry about your friend. It's terrible that this disease is still taking lives.  I hope you can fully enjoy your anniversary with your husband.  You have weathered a lot together and deserve some time just for yourselves.

JFV--I assume you are off for the summer now?  I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'll be going back in a few months.  Sort of excited, yet dreading all this wonderful free time coming to an end.  Sorry about your mom.  I hope everything works out in a way that is best for everyone!  

Dmom--I hope you can get that grill going!  It's nice that you can get out of the city for a while. 

Hi Bon!  Hope you are doing ok--I think you are almost done with Herceptin?  I'm really hoping that you will feel better quickly after you are done!  I can't wait to be done in August!

The only story I have about a radiologist is the one that read my films when I had to go back in for more pictures (before my dx).  He saw some calcifications and told me IF it was cancer (but that was unlikely), it would only be DCIS.  He actually told me there is no hurry to getting the biopsy done, because nothing will change.  When I had the biopsy done I asked the radiologist (a woman who is the top in the field according to the nurse) if there was ANY chance it could be invasive cancer, and she said yes, there is a chance. I was surprised!  I had been telling everyone what the first rad. had told me, that it would only be dcis, if anything. That was so wrong of him to say that.  What was he thinking?  He should definitely know better--or he shouldn't be a radiologist!  I'd love to go back and tell him what dx I ended up with! But I don't go to that radiology place anymore.  Thankfully my biopsy went well-- a little uncomfortable, but not bad, and very caring people!

Turned out to be a nice day here in MN!  Hope everyone else is having good weather!

kitty-  Happy Anniversary!  Grab hold of every single reason to celebrate and whoop it up!  Many years ago I saw a gorgeous formal gown on sale and couldn't resist it, even though I had no occassion to wear it.  I told a young doctor I was working with about my silly purchase.  He decided to take me on a formal picnic and came in a tuxedo to pick me up so I could wear my gown!  I know, I know, what a great guy....and of course he ended up being gay!  The point of all this is that we should all just grab life and celebrate a LOT, and not just for special occassions.

Tina-  I am so glad you are relaxing and enjoying your summer.  You earned it girl!

Sherry!!!! Where are you?  We miss you!  Hope you are well!

Mimi-  I am already excited about our Spring get together.  I can't wait to finally meet everyone face to face.

Gin-  What a gift if you organize a program for BC ladies.  How is your sweet mom?

Bon-  I am still beating up my grill.  I threatened to buy some briquets and someone said "Oh NO!  They are carcinogenic, don't use those!"  You may have to brave a gas grill if that is true.  Is nothing in this world safe any more?

Sorry if I missed anyone. My machine breakdowns continue.  My &^%$ washing machine won't drain or spin.  I just realized it has been agitating for hours.  I better go beat it up.  Machines!