Is there a July 2011 group?

Good thoughts going out to you and your family, Jamie. Agreed with rabbit, try to take care of yourself first. Please hang in there and post when you can, but no pressure!

Sandy, hoping your 1st treatment goes well.  As someone else said, the actual administration of the stuff isn't so bad.  for me, it was the looking forward to it, and then the side effects.  Little confession: my very first treatment, my hubby had to work, and I had a friend just drop me at the door.  by the time they called me I was a wreck.  The nurse looked at my papers and said "first time?" and I burst into tears.  They were SO KIND   All the nurses came and hugged me, and reassured me.  In fact, I felt SO fabulous after it was over, I went home and had 3 pieces of pizza!!!  Now that was a mistake! 

 Mentally it is very hard to go sit and let them infuse meds into you, that you know will make you sick.  When I finished my 4 cycles of AC, it was at least reassuring to know it worked.  My path report read 100% response to chemo.  I think that's one reason THIS round of chemo is easier.  Just knowing the cancer responds, can get me through a lot.

I'll be praying for you all today! 

Jamie - I hope things get better for your uncle and your husband's step-grandmother. When it rains it really pours sometimes.

J-Bug - I'm sorry you're having so much trouble meeting deadlines. Don't be too hard on yourself. I hope your boss understands and cuts you some slack. They'd probably appreciate it more if you approach them before you miss any deadlines since maybe they can pitch in and help a bit.

Snoopy - I like that your oncologist is okay with you stopping Tamoxifen after 2 years. I had one tell me it was okay, but the one I'm currently with feels strongly about 5 years. I'm only 28, so 33 is still young, but 5 years is just such a long time. I think I'm going to negotiate for 2 as long as everything is going well with my recovery. We were starting a family last year and this is our second derailment, so it's been the hardest part of this journey to have to wait.

For those of you looking for wraps, scarves, and other headcovers, I have a couple of websites to check out. My SIL ordered from www.headcovers.com and sent me a number of little hats and covers (where you just have to make a simple tie in the back to tighten to your head). They're cute and not too pricy. I think about $15 each or so. There's also another site, www.franceluxe.com and they have a Good Wishes program. If you go to the site, click on the link for Good Wishes, and it will tell you how you can get a free head wrap from them. They are normally around $72 each, but this program will send you one when you are going through chemo. Just choose your top 3. I recommend cotton over silk since it's more breatheable and stays on better. Mine took about 2 weeks to come in from when I contacted them. 

 I'm doing okay today. Last day before round 3. I should head out for a nice walk later this afternoon. I'm trying to avoid the 10-4 hours so I don't get a sunburn. I will be at the Cancer Center from 9am to 2pm tomorrow (long day!). I have blood draws, doctors appointment, chemo, and then my last expansion. I should have my echo results before my next chemo. 

Ladies - did we maybe want to start a list of our screen names, treatment schedules, etc on the first post? I saw they did this on some prior chemo groups and it might help us keep up with each other's schedules and regimens.

Sorry for the workplace drama ladies! I did end up getting all the work but two items done and then dropped them off this morning and got a bit of short response on the missing two, but promised those two would be e-mailed after the MRI and muga scan. That is now done and I am going to grab some early dinner and go to bed! Haven't slept since Saturday night. I am working on getting this in a better balance by talking to the kids about less interruptions and being more disciplined about my time. 

Other than that, I am feeling really well. I am very pleased at how my body is handling the AC treatments. Once I keep up with the Omeprazole, Maalox and Senecot daily, I can handle the aches and heartburn that still comes through all the meds. Two AC treatments to go!! 

Time for some Ambien and a fluffy pillow!!! 

I've been feeling really good on A/C as well, after a few rough days in the begginning. Next treatment this Thursday. Woke up today with hip and shoulder discomfort, called the onc who said that Nuelasta can cause aches later rather than earlier. I had none at all after the first shot. It is not terrible , just sort of achy. I amattributing it to that. Tylenol is helping alot.

Hubby is away for work and son is on vacation. Not loving being alone but friends and family are a call away. Glad you ladies are here!

Jamie: You are in my thoughts......and prayers. Remember to keep taking care of yourself as well.

Sandy-Hope all went ok for you today.

J-Bug- I worked from 7-5 today, and am exhausted. I am right behind you with the ambien. Take care of yourself. Working through this is hard but also takes my mind off things. I am trying to do as much as I can now as you never know as chemo progresses how we will feel.

Valbee- my hair is thinning right out. Not falling out but I can pull the hairs right out of my head, though not in clumps. Trying to baby the heck out of it and hope it hangs on till my last day of work Thursday. Will probably cut short and start the wig over the weekend.

Wishing all a good evening!

Sandy - I had the same thing, though I was worse on the first treatment because I was so exhausted (no steroids then). They added the steroids for treatment #2 and I found myself wired starting on Day 3. I still have jumpiness and I only took the steroids for Days 1-3. I plan to tell my doctor tomorrow when I go for my 3rd treatment.

dexxy, thank you for the response. the days leading up to this morning's infusion were full of ups and downs, moments of calm, and of course moments of abject terror! i read through more posts on this site and others and i'm still continually amazed how easily you all seem to adjust to your treatments over time and prove to the rest of us that life does indeed go on.

sandy115, i'm hoping your first treatment went well and that you're feeling okay about everything now. i must say that i feel much better having that first appointment behind me, though there wasn't anything even marginally scary about the process. it's been 8 hours now since my infusions finished and mostly i just feel kind of tired and a little headachey. i'm not sure what tomorrow will bring but i keep telling myself it's worth it. if there are rogue cells in me, their moments are numbered!

i neep a nap... =D

welcome catron, I started June 29th so we're close to each other. I am on FEC, what are you on? I have a port and from what I hear, it's much better this way. 

Hope everyone has a SE free day tomorrow!!
xoxoxo 

Catron that could be the effect of cytoxan. When they were infusing that I felt my throat closing up.

From Frankenboobs: the days leading up to this morning's infusion were full of ups and downs, moments of calm, and of course moments of abject terror! i read through more posts on this site and others and i'm still continually amazed how easily you all seem to adjust to your treatments over time and prove to the rest of us that life does indeed go on.

Frankenboobs, I think I'm one of the people who seems to be easily adjusting. So, I just wanted to give a little more background about me and what helps shape my attitude. 

I actually lost my husband to colon cancer 16 years ago. He was diagnosed very late because he was so young (31 at diagnosis) and the doctors weren't looking for it. He fought it for 18 months. My sons (twins) were just shy of their 10th birthday. 

We forged onward. I was told more than once how strong I was. It used to make me so angry, because I didn't understand why people would say something so stupid. I was as strong as I had to be and anyone else would be the same under the same circumstances. No, it isn't something you can imagine. It just is.

My own diagnosis blindsided me. I spent many nights crying myself to sleep, lamenting the unfairness of it all. Telling my kids I had cancer was the hardest thing I've ever done--yes, even harder than telling them their dad was dying. One of my sons lives eight hours away from me and he really had a hard time with it at first, because he wasn't here for the day to day information, and even worse, that information kept changing! I don't think it was until we met up in NYC after my lumpectomy that he started to relax. He needed to see me, to see that I was not falling apart.

But still, I cried myself to sleep. When I found out I had lymph node involvement, I was a wreck. I started reading statistics and freaking myself out. And then one night, I was in bed crying again, and I suddenly got so angry with myself. I told myself (out loud even) that no, it wasn't f**king (excuse my language) fair that this is happening, but it doesn't change that it *is* happening. And I could either get upset and make it harder on myself, or I could attack it with all my might. 

I made a conscious choice that my negative thoughts would be at a minimum from that point forward. I do believe that has made a difference, at least so far. I post about cancer on Facebook. I make fun of it. The day before my first infusion, my status message said, "Cancer? You ready? I'm coming for you. And you don't stand a chance."

I'm not saying it's easy to have a positive attitude. I think living through what I did with my husband is part of the reason I can. I don't get angry when people tell me I'm strong anymore, either. In fact, I draw energy from that. I have an example to set for my kids, my nieces... and anyone else that I love that may someday face this. 

Of course, next infusion I could have a bad time of it and prove myself wrong. But I'm still flipping off cancer regardless.

Valbee you are a very strong women and im pretty sure that you will win this battle...I also get angry with people when they said that im a strong womwn , a tough cookie....i try to be strong but sometime i cant, i need to cry ,i need to think that is not fare that this is happening to me, that my kids need me and is not fare for my 9 years  old daughter to cry because her mom is loosing her hair...anyways but after that I get up and im ready to win this battle ..tomorrow is number two and i hope is going to be as good as number one.

good luck to evryone and I wish you a day without SEs

Hi Everyone I had my 1st Treatment yesterday the treatment itself was okay.An hour after I got home the nausea started not throwing up just nasaues but it was bad.I also had a severe headache the bone @ the back of neck ice helped a little and crackers and gingerale.Other than that I have'nt eaten @ all no appetiteThe nurse is coming out @ 4 to give the Nuleasta shot any suggestions on the shot,Did anyone blood pressues my pressue is low today and I usually have high blood pressure Rabbit you can add me on facebook or anyone else Sandra Smyth Latter.J Bug glad you are finally getting some rest it is very impotant you dont run yourself down.Rabbit glad you are going good.Valbee You have had a tough time in life and are so positive you give the rest of us strenth.I hope everyone is having minimal S/E and good luck to everyone else going through Treatments this week.

Rabbit - love it.....I've been doing same thing with my friends and have also posted publicly and privately about it on FB.



Tina