Is there a July 2011 group?

are you ladies all getting the neulasta shots? I'm putting my foot down and saying no.  Unless my numbers are horrible I'm sticking to the minimum drug policy

hi dexxy

my onco told me he would prefer I don't get the shot either...he said only if we see necessary.

hi Snoopy, I have not heard of that, but then I'm not really "young" anymore LOL  

dexxy - I'm not getting neulasta, according to my doc and NP. Not unless I have a problem, I suppose. There seem to be different policies. There also may be some medical reason why someone might be more at risk and might need it. I don't have any blood work again until the day of the next treatment, so won't know how I am faring until then.

BlessOMel - I'm sorry you are having to battle for the zofran. I took it every 8 hours the first three days and only felt queasy one day, so think it must be pretty effective. I hope that gets sorted out. When I was feeling a little sick, I just nibbled on saltines and sipped gingerale whenever I started to feel off. That seemed to keep it at bay. Then I was able to eat a little more once my stomach had settled. There are also these cookies I like - Anna's Ginger Thins, I think. I ate some of those, too.

Jamie - you will feel better soon. Try to remember that. It is so hard when you feel bad and think that is how you will feel forever. Sounds like they are taking good care of you. I hope you are on the upswing or will be really soon.

J-bug - I just hate that you are wearing yourself out working and worrying about working. I've really been thinking about you. Do you have a support system, other than your husband? Friends or family that can at least take some of the non-work burdens off of you?

Rabbit - thanks for keeping us posted on everything you are going through. Even though you are having different meds, you are far enough ahead that you kind of seem like a guage to help me figure out what to expect.

All these headaches everyone is getting - that sucks - I've had one the last few days. I think mine is a hormonal migraine, though. I'm getting my period, sort of, several days early. Wonder if this will be the last one? I was also slightly headachy on day 3, but that was not too bad.

Today I wore a really wide headband to work. I'm calling it my transitional look. It is actually a buff that I can pull all the way over my head if needed. At least it is keeping the hair from falling all over me. That was getting annoying. It is also much thinner now, and this kind of hides that. I'm thinking tomorrow morning might be the time to get it shaved. I'm surprised, though, to hear that it is STILL annoying, even when it is extremely short. Oh well, better forewarned, right?

Try to stay cool, everyone. Best wishes for a SE free weekend.

Kayak- I had my BMX surgery at and chemo planning through Dartmouth Hitchcock. It is an amazing hospital. My local hospital is an affiliate and I see the onc here as well as an onc at Dartmouth. Feel free to message me with any questions. It is a tremendous, first rate hospital.

Frankenboob - I know people say this but as far as chemo goes the hard part for me was the not knowing.  Not knowing how it would feel, what would happen, what to do, how I'd feel, could i work etc etc etc.  after you're first treatment you will actually feel a sense of relief.  Arm yourself with the best diet and exercise daily.  even if its just walking its the most important thing to not stop.  Eat lots of healthy proteins and vegetables.  I usually wait till day 6 to start in.  day 1-5 I take it easy and eat simple bland food.  Although a good chicken soup will heal anything.  Listen to your body, it will tell you if you need to rest.  If your Dr. will let you take supplements.  Chemo is not easy but its also not as hard as you'd think.  You have a lot of support here so reach out and ask we'll all fill you

take care

Working 4 long days and thinking I was back to myself.....and now I have caught a cold from my son, who I had to ship off to my mom's for the weekend to keep the germ exposure at a minimum. So frustrated that this disease is keeping me from taking care of my son because I can't be exposed to illness......had sore throat checked out today , so far no antibiotics, but have to call the onc on call if it gets worse. I was feeling so good, too. Onc said that Adriamycin can cause sore throat as well so that be what is going on. DH came home from business tonight and I just fell apart in tears.

Hope everyone has a good weekend with few SE's.

Sooooooo sorry to hear you are not feeling well Jamie. I hope you get to feeling better real soon.



So my fight for zofran is over and I won after being sick for 2 days. I hope I will be well prepared for next go round. I am armed with zofran, preggy pops (which I hear work great for nausea and I will be getting a sea band. I absolutely despise being sick. So keep your fingers crossed that I have all the gear I need.



Next chemo is on Monday. Not ready for it but know that the sooner I do it the faster this will be all over with

Hang in there misswim, there will probably many more opportunities for you to take care of him.

Bles0mel, congrats on the win to bad you had to suffer to get it though.

So had #2 today feel about the same as the first, but the hair is coming out in mass. I haven't shaved it as my husband and son are out of town until tomorrow and hubby made a comment about hoping it can hang on until he gets back. I think he doesn't want me to be myself for the shock.

So my biggest complaint today, why in the world does my period have to start on the same day as chemo #2and the mass of hair loss. This is not nice

Cathy_C, my period started the day of my biopsy AND the day of my surgery! Mother Nature is a PITA! And just for good measure, even though my period was a solid week before my first round of chemo, this was the week when premenopause opted to rear its ugly head and give me spotting for a solid week AFTER my period should have been over.

Khs113, ideally I'd only be eating healthy things throughout this. But the other day, I had sugar free chocolate pudding, grapes and blueberries in my lunch. Some of the blueberries were edible for me (the really ripe ones), but the grapes were horrible and left a terrible taste in my mouth. The pudding was the only thing that I could eat without gagging. I go for the healthy choices when the thought of eating them doesn't make my stomach lurch.

Jamie, I'm so sorry to hear things are rough for you this time around. Hoping for big improvement for you soon.

Haven't written. Have felt lousy trying to go back to work. Thought I was a wimp. Doctor said I was sick again. I have wicked headaches. Doctor even agreed medicianal marijuana could help my appetite, but she can't write in MA. I have a house in RI and know some docs so I am working on it.

Jsut beginning to eat pasta-if tiny becuase of the mouth ulcers. Very sad I am losing my hair. Have to give my wig a name...it is lovely but I have not grown to like her even though she was the best of all the choices at several stores...maybe Anastasia or Penelope or Clarissa. I don't know.  I have to find a way to engender myself to her...

LADIES: Cleaning for a reason from the American Cancer  Society will send you a free housecleaner 2 x a month if they are in oyur area and you have cancer. Please check...the website 

cleaningforareason. I got a call today offering 4  complete 3 hour house cleanings as a courtesy form an agency that only service oncology clients. Also consider doing their color my beautiful program. People from major make up companies help you lookoyur best and give you lovely makeup...I ahven't done it yet but the Social wroker encouraged it. I also am getting a free massage tomorrow form the New England School of Massage in the Bosotn area- theytrain  skilled therapists how to work with oncology patients. Find oyur resources...my town will give me 500 toward any alternative therapies including massage for each calendr year and unbeleiveably they will reimburse me  up to $2500 per calendar year for any copays, Rx's parking, ensure bills, etc, anything related to medical treatment. This is a foundation that left money in my town, but when I went searching I found hte Ellie fund htat alos does cleaning , rides,drops off meals, but it is local ot Boston. My town offers abreast cancer support group of 6 people -2 are triple negative like em, a caregivers support, rides to anything cancer relaated, and a caregivers support meeting

There are 2 scarf plces theat send you free scarves- once is silk dupioni...a wonderful fabric. They are in France and will send world wide... they normally cost 72.00 form them.

So I found as a social worker myself I googled and got a lot of resources. It I hadn't looked no one would have told me. I told the oncology social worker about several. SHe knew of a few but I send her a list of everything I learn.

Hope this hels someone.

Andthe AMericanCnaner Society website lists all the places with yoga, support groups,make-up seminars, etc in your area.

Painting mywaythru:

You are incredible.  After all you are experiencing you are still able to send us these wonderful resources.  Thank You.  I do beieve it will get better for you.  I know its hard to feel upbeat when you are not feeling well.  YOu seem to be doing so so much though.  I hope you are giving your body the rest it needs.  Its hot and sticky and downright uncomfortable but I know better days are ahead for all us July chemolytes.  Keeping you in prayer.

Everyone,

Today is day #5 after TC #1:  So far I feel almost normal.  I do tire more easily so I decided I am going to go take a 2 hour napafter I finish positing.   One thing I notice is some sharp pain by my incision.  I guess its the scar tissue healing.  Also, pain in my groin and by my pelvis.  It is just little stabbing pain, but quite noticeable.  My pelvic ultrasound came back last week showing I have a simple cyst on my ovaries so my OB/GYN wants me to have an MRI. The 2cm cysts were there in 2009 but one seem to have gotten bigger.  I am not worried but just want to make sure I do the right things.  I get frustrated with these docs sometimes because I had asked for an MRI last year and was told I did not need it.

  Anyone else with similar experience of the pain in the pelvis after TC?  Would like to know I am not alone.

Thanks and have a great weekend everyone

Can anyone tell me their experience with Dense Dose chemo?  I am concerned about my oncologist's recommendation for DDchemo because my cancer is Stage 1 in right breast, Stage 2 in left, with overall Grade 2A.  Had bi-lateral mast. 6/29; thought that was pretty aggressive & would mean less agressive follow treatment.  Would like to hear opinions on Dose Dense chemo & its side effects.  I am 62 yr. old with fibromyalgia; first timer for B.C.  Thank you!

Cydsong, I am 2 yrs older than you - just started Dose Dense adriamycin/cytoxan every 2 wks for 4 cycles, then will switch to taxol weekly for 12 wks.  2 days after the first treatment I woke up feeling totally washed out, with minimal nausea  Couldn't do a thing for 2 days, but then woke up the next day feeling normal (as normal as you can feel in 100 degree weather)!  I believe this regimen may have been suggested to you because of your tumor grade (2A).  I am grade 3 - aggressive. 

Cydsong: I am 40 and on the AC every two weeks for 8 weeks and then Taxol every two weeks for 8 weeks, then mastectomy, then radiation, then Tamoxifen. I did my 2nd treatment not two days ago Friday, but the Friday before, so my 3rd will be this coming Friday, with Neulasta shot on Saturday.

I am wondering what the size of your tumors were? The fact that you had it in both breasts might be a reason to choose AC dd. My tumor is over 8 cm and I am hearing this approach that I am doing is becoming, in the last ten years, a standard approach to the really large tumors, along with surgery being after chemo. Right now, my surgeon has said that he cannot get clean margins and would likely have to do multiple surgeries to get it all. The chemo will shrink that tumor down and make the edges of it become more defined.

The side effects are tough at times, but you find ways to get through them and just know that this too will pass. I find ways to enjoy the process, like lots of naps and funny movies, try not to dwell on the side effects, except to the point of paying attention and taking care of them, then I eagerly look forward to the day I get my life back. I am working from home and have way too heavy of a workload for getting through this, but I just have to trust that I will either find a way to continue or find a way to deal with the loss of income, hopefully not losing the house over it. 

Can I join you all?  I started 12 weeks of Taxol the last week in June, so due to finish the first week of Sept.  Already had 4 cycles of AC before my surgery.  So far the side effects of Taxol are very manageable when compared with the AC!  Biggest problem is getting an IV every week.  No PICC line or port here, and the veins are starting to let me down.