Chemo May 2011

Bkj66 - People can be so self absorbed, I bet your co-workers don't even realize they are benefitting from your treatments.  As far as moving you around, that's really unaceptable!  I'm just at a loss as to how some people can be so thoughtless.  I'm so sorry you have to deal with that, I was a hairdresser a long long time ago and I don't miss it one bit, it's not an easy job and I give you lots of credit for being able to work thru your treatments.  Don't let them get you down!!

Wow, no wonder most ladies on here have a port!  My two weeks off I only get a finger stick.  I'd hate to give up a vein very week.

It is so weird how people react when someone is sick.  My husband never wanted anyone to know that he had cystic fibrosis, and this is probably why!  When he did tell people, he didn't get the response that we have all been getting though.  I wonder why.  

Anyway..I've had some issues with friends.  One has completely dropped off the radar. I used to see her a couple of times a week and I haven't seen her once in the 3 months since I have been dx.  I just find that crazy.  Another friend was hardly seeing me or asking if I needed anything, etc., so I finally sent her an email about it a couple of weeks ago and it has gotten better.  I just felt so abandoned because these are my really close friends.

I have a lot of friends that live far away and one day I was feeling particularly lonely and so I sent out a facebook message saying that I would love to get mail from people if they wanted to help and also for my crafty friends that they could make me hats.  It felt so lame, but I've gotten care packages and cards and it does make me feel better.  My virtual support has been so much better than my real life support, which does make me sad, but at least there is some.

I think that people are oblivious, rude, or sometimes just don't know how to handle it. I think that with my friends they don't know how to handle me being sick, especially so soon after my husband's death.  But it is still hard.

I can't believe how some of the people in your lives are acting.  I say speak up!  You'll probably feel better.  Hugs to everyone!!! 

We remind them of their own mortality... That because we are young and so are they.



My online friends have been amazing... Some of them have been friends with me for many years and I hope to meet a few of them next year.

Count down to ac #6, my last one!!! Friday is the day, then off to abraxane/carbo and avastin. Would love to hear more from those who have done abraxane(or taxol) and carbo. Also would like to know more about se of avastin. Thank you Suze35 for sharing your experience with taxol/carbo. Did you do weekly? I am doing weekly, but the carbo might be changed to e/o week if I can't handle the weekly, at least that is what my mo said. I thought weekly was suppose to be the easiest way!

How are you new taxol gals holding up?

One of my closest friends called last night - haven't heard from her in weeks.  I took the opportunity to tell her how abandoned I felt by everyone.  She cried and apologized, and said she had not been calling because she was afraid it would be a disturbance if I was not feeling well.  I wonder if that is how other people think?  That calling is an imposition? 

Hello beautiful ladies,

Just wanted to say that I love you all and I do have a great family and friend support but when I get on here I feel like I am not alone and can make it through this thanks to all you ladies.  

Just wanted to get that out there, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Hugs and love.  Pam 

Hi ladies,

My port worked fine today when went in for the Taxol.  Thank God!  I was so worried.  Thanks for all of your encouragement and positive words.

About the constipation - that was my big deal during the first two infusions of AC.  My Dr gave me Miralax for the third and subsuequent tx and I haven't had it since.  My nail beds did turn a gray color just above the cuticles.  The Onc nurse told me it was from the cytoxan.  They seem to lighten up with the more water I consume. 

Bkj66, I agree with your thought to charge them a referral fee simply due to your loss of income. It's not as if you quit or had to relocate. Even in those cases, I would still charge it. Especially since you know they are benefitting financially from your clients. That's not fair to you. Sorry, that's just me. You still need to pay your bills.

Beaglesgirl, I agree with you on the Taxol.  So far, so good.  No poisonous feeling!  I was tired afterwards and took a 2-hour nap when I got home. I will keep you posted.  

Although I don't post often, I get so much good out of what you Ladies share.

I am so tired and sick to my stomach all the time but trying to use all the helpful hints given.

I have my first Docetaxol (Taxotere) in 2 weeks and I am so frightened of it.  I had 3 FEC already and they've just wiped me out.  Anyway, I''m trying to focus on what some have said - that the Taxotere was easier than the FEC. 

Is anyone else gaining weight from trying to ease their stomach sickness with eating too much?  I'm feeling very bad and ugly with my weight gain (clothes don't fit). 

beaglesgirl,

had my #1 taxol last monday, down the whole day yesterday (3rd day) and today.  whole body pain, been taking 800mg ibuprofen.  taste buds made a turn, couldn't taste anything.  my body pain starts from head upto feet.  been bed-bound for 2 days now.  i hope my body picks up tomorrow.

laureen

Laureen,

that has been my experience as the taxol has progressed. i am weekly and i just finished #8 of 12. THEN i move on the 4 dd AC.

aleve works better for me than ibuprofen. along with that daily claritan. i have chronically stuffy sinuses and nose. bleeding nose. bloody mucus from nose blowing. taste buds not working. it's like a really really bad flu but without the fever or the flu. i stare at the wall a lot and watch more tv than i have in a long time.

Muscle pain bordering on cramping in calves and hamstrings. and sometimes my teeth hurt which i haven't seen anyone else post about here. just achy teeth.  

 i use the glutamine for the peripheral neuropathy issue. i tend toward loose stool more than constipation... many times a day and that SE brings on short term nausea for me, but never vomiting.

mentally i find myself quite flat or depressed during those days... i get chemo on monday mornings and am wasted physically starting around afternoon of Wed until Friday morning sometimes even longer.

I just keep looking forward to October when my chemo will be done. I keep enjoying the fact that my tumor is shrinking best i can tell. and that All I'll Want For Christmas is Some Hair on My Head. lol...

ts 

Cyborg,

Have a great weekend, and enjoy yourself.  You deserve it.

You will have to fill us all in on how much fun you had when you get back.

I will have my last T/C on Aug 1st then off to radiation I am guessing end of Aug or 1st of  Sept.

 Have a great time in Vegas.

Pam 

Twisted steel, we are on the same regimen and nearly going at the same pace. I just had 11 of 12 Taxol on Tuesday. Then, I switch to DD ACx4. Taxol was not that bad for me. I wasn't sick once. Pretty minor SE's, other than crushing headaches. A little scared of the AC, though. Seems to have a very bad "rap." They have prescribed me Emend and the dreaded Neulasta and I'm hoping these are the only meds I will need. I know everyone's different but I have talked to some who seemed fine on AC and some who said they were essentially incapacitated for many days. Wish I knew which to expect. Does anyone care to provide a list of any AC SE's? How is it different from Taxol?



About the issues with family and friends, I haven't really shared the BC news with people
outside of that circle. Some days,I don't want to talk about BC. Some people ask how I'm feeling but
I don't get the warm and fuzzy feeling and you can almost tell they don't REALLY want to know any
details. People are pretty self-centered and their worlds only revolve around them, in general.

Maybe, my pride gets in the way, though. I work in a setting with mostly men so, I usually dont talk
about BC with them. They always ask how treatment is going and believe it or not, they've been more kind and interested than my female friends! Go figure!!



Life lover, at first, I was munching stuff all day, with a slightly upset stomach (just off but not full nausea). After a week or two, this subsided, for some reason. It felt a little like morning sickness
when I was pregnant. I have gained a few pounds from the steroids, I believe.



Cyborg, have a great trip. I just got back from one last weekend. I swear I felt better and more
relaxed because of it. I think it just helps to have something to look forward to and take your mind
off the stupid cancer. Anything that helps.



Hang in there, everyone.