June 2011 A/C & T Groupies Unite!

Singlemom - I do Claritin for the Neulasta shot exactly the same as FGCUfan.  And my oncologist is now recommending this to her other patients!  Some day they'll figure out exactly how this works.

Michelle

Hi Laura!  You have awesome chia kids!  How old are they?  Really sweet of them to shave their heads with you.  My hubby and friend/coworker say they are going to do that with me.  We'll see.  :-)

Ralston, thank you so much for all of the tips!

Rose - so glad you are feeling better!  Yes, one more AC then it's going to get easier, right?

And funny about the port incision, I had a little thread sticking out that was bugging me.  I grabbed hold of it with nail clippers and removed it - all 1/8 inch or so...lol.  I guess everything else had dissolved.  It felt so much better afterwards.

I've gotten past the queasy stomach and the nasty metallic taste.  But I am noticing the fatigue and it doesn't take much to wear me out.  So I rest when I need it.   And I eat ice cream

Michelle

Rose - I find the heart pounding thing almost nauseating, too, at times.  I am trying to just take it easy right now.  There will be time for rebuilding later.  Not sure about the Neulasta for Taxol.  I don't think that Herceptin is a problem.  And I guess it depends on your system...I didn't need Neulasta after this past AC #3 because my system is sensitive to it. 

Hope everyone has a good day, and stays cool if you are in one of the "heat wave" states.

Michelle

Thanks, Rose!  It is beautiful here, and we drove up to Hanover and Woodstock a couple weekends ago and were reminded that we spent way too much time in the Kansas City area.  The people in KC are nice and friendly, but the geography...well, it's not New England!

Michelle

Suzanne - you might want to verify with your accountant...  yes, the meds are deductible, along with mileage and many of the expenses associated with treatment.  The catch is that you have to itemize, and the total expenses must exceed a certain percentage of your income.  I think it's 7% but don't quote me on that. 

Regarding the Neulasta shot, my guess is that my oncologist will run labs, and if my white count is too low, I will get the shot.  Really, that should be the answer for everyone.

Michelle

Rose {{{hugs}}} - so sorry your tummy is not cooperating and you are so very tired.  I'm a bit tired, too, but I can't sleep.  My nightly sleeping pill gets me from about 10:30 until 4:00 or so, then all bets are off as to whether or not I will doze for a while.  This morning I got up at 5 after lying in bed awake for an hour.  Luckily, my tummy is cooperating. 

Sleep is so beneficial for healing (yeah, yeah, easier said than done).  You might be better off giving in to that afternoon siesta, especially in this hot weather.  My friend has spent a couple summers in Spain and told me that the country just shuts down in the middle of the afternoon because it's too hot and people just rest.  I think they've got something there!

Are you taking anything for your arthritis pain?  I've had osteoarthritis (knees) for 11 years and I take meloxicam (Mobic).  I swear it's a wonder drug.  It works great for me, it's dirt cheap ($4 a month at WalMart) and I'm sure it's been keeping away all the other chemo-induced aches and pains.  You need some relief, sister!!!

Hoping you have a comfortable day,

Michelle

I know I'm a little behind you guys, but I enjoy your posts so much, I'm sticking with you!  Today I have AC #2.  I was so bummed about it yesterday, and the fact that my hair started falling out yesterday!  But I do have my wig picked out and it's ready to be picked up on Saturday.  That's good news, I guess.  It really is beautiful.  I also have a few pretty scarves.  I haven't decided whether or not I should buzz my hair down this weekend or not.  I'm not sure how quickly it will go now that it has started.  Any thoughts?

Stephanie - interesting question about the hair loss.  If you had asked me before I started chemo, I would have quoted what my good friend told me (she had AC years ago)...you can count on it starting to go around day 14 and you will probably be bald around day 17.  Well, guess what?  I am one full week past 3 AC treatment and I still have quite a bit of hair, including what looks like some new "chemo white" hair on top of my head.  There is still stubble from my buzz, the fallout seems to have stopped, and I had to shave my legs yesterday.  So the answer to your question is not so clear.  Odds are in favor of it falling out, and buzzing makes the process easier and neater. 

As for the ice cream craving, it's funny.  First, I am diabetic so eating lots of ice cream is not exactly a diabetic-friendly thing.  Second, we have moved to an area in NH where there is a really good ice cream stand on every corner.  It's almost like DunkinDonuts!!!  And the typical "small" servings are just huge!  So I am sticking to a kiddie cone if they sell one, or eating half the serving and tossing the rest.  I'm pretty sure I've eaten more ice cream in the last month than I ate in the last two years!!!  Gotta get the calcium, right??? A few of the stands have decent sugar-free flavors, so I try to stick to those. But sugar-free vanilla doesn't cut it for me. So, portion control is my friend.  And I have found some yummy sugar-free Italian ices in the ice cream novelty section of the grocery store.  Those things are perfect!

Have a great day, ladies!

Michelle

Well, ladies, I'm sitting in the chemo chair for AC#2.  I wasn't sure I would get it today because when I met with my oncologist, he said my liver enzymes were high and he needed to check last week's levels against today's levels.  So we had to wait.  Luckily we were able to go home while we waited and I got my blankie and laptop that I left there this morning, lol!  I also loaded up a cooler with water bottles on ice and put in an Activia yogurt.  Then we stopped at Sonic for wraps and my beloved Diet Coke to enjoy while I can because after this, I again won't be able to stand the taste.  Then I had to run back home to use the restroom because, now that the constipation is gone, I've had diarrhea all morning.  Oh yay!  We made it back to the infusion center and they said I'm good to go.  Just got the Red Devil and now an hour of Cytoxan.  By the way, my hair came out and big chunks in the shower today, so I'm thinking this is the weekend to cut it down.  I'm debating whether or not to dye it pink in honor of us and those who have lost the battle.

Sure, dye it pink!  I did a mohawk (only lasted 3 days before hunks fell out).

I had my 4th AC yesterday.  I'm halfway through!  On to Taxol.  A big sleep weekend is ahead of me.  My girls will have a couple nights sleepover at their cousin's house to give me a quiet house for those worst days.   

Hi chemo friends!  I had my 4th and final AC today and will move on to 4 T's in August and Sept.  Everything went well but I think being forced to slow down caught up with me.  I was tired as soon as I stepped out into the heat after my treatment today... went home and took a nap... that ended up lasting 4.5 hours!  I'm up now to get some food and push fluids and then it's back to bed for me so I can tackle the busy day waiting for me at work tomorrow.

I saw my surgeon on Tuesday and it looks like we have a tentative game plan.  The tumor is definitely shrinking (he confirmed with an informal ultrasound) and we are all thrilled... looks like I will have a lumpectomy and SNB about 4-6 weeks after chemo ends in mid-Septembe.  Doc says it will keep me out of work for at least a month and I admit I was relieved to hear it.

Interesting thing happened to me today. When I was hooked up to the chair, this lady approached me and said they were looking for patients to interview for a video they are producing on behalf of the hospital foundatio (she said the target audience is "high rollers" not the general public).  I consented to a short interview.... they also took some still pics... good thing I was as camera ready as I ever am. (I am changing my profile pic so y'all can see. Having trouble with the image uploader.)

Congrats Kat.  Let's hope it the beginning of something really big.

Has anyone heard from Singlemom1 since her treatment on the 18th?  I know she was staying with a friend for a few days but I'm still worried about her.

Love, luck, laughter, peace, prayers, & little SEs to all.

Suzanne

Never mind.  I have 13 8" braids!  Yippee!