April 2011 chemo

Sarah--I'm so sorry.  It's so true--it's such a large decision in life, and it's hard to confront how you really feel about it until you start talking about it.  I once told my husband that it didn't matter if I'd had one or ten, the day I knew I was done having kids would be a sad one.  As it turns out, it was one.  And I was on bedrest for my pregnancy!  I really wanted to have another, but hubby was never that keen on the idea--not that he isn't absolutely in love with our son!  I was in musical theater before I returned to grad school, and I admire the artists who stuck with it.  I really made the choice in my late 20s that I wanted a family and I knew I wasn't headed there where I was.  We all make our choices, and I really do admire yours.  

 Determined, there was something I wanted to say to you and now can't remember since it was on the last page....argg...chemo brain!

Artie--AWESOME shirt!  My mom and I are great friends, and she's come up most weeks to watch our son as my hubby takes me to treatment.  Mom went with me twice though when Larry had something for work.  I feel awful to have put her through this...she loves me as much as I love MY son, and I know it would kill me to watch him have a battle like this, so I know it's hard on her.  But then, that's the price for loving so much, eh?  It sounds like you two have that loving relationship.  

Gotta run...my son is home from school--first day and last day of this week since he was home sick Mon-Weds.  I vomited last night and still don't feel 100%.  I just have 2 more days of Lapatinib pills to take for this round of chemo, and I'm wondering if I should call and say I'm not sure I can hold them down.  I may just WARRIOR through and give it a try.  I think it's just how my body reacts to a bug while on the chemo.  It seems if Jack has any bug at all it leaves me vomiting.  That wasn't one of his symptoms at all, but maybe my stomach is just more sensitive since the chemo treatments.  I don't know.  Okay, really gotta run!  

just checking in to say that after 4 rounds of taxoterre and cytoxin, my tumor has halved in size and satellite tumor cant even be seen anymore...just passing on how chemo does work...and for me, now comes the surgery...sigh 

hi everyone!! internet was down yesterday so i missed alot! everyone needs a great big HUG!!!

i had my daughter at 19 so i feel that i grew up with her somewhat...and i only had one because we could never afford more. i think we did pretty good by her since we were babies ourselves!! it just sucks that cancer has to come up and crash your dreams of more children  

 but big hugs to all!!!

Warrior on Ranger Mom!!!!  Sending loving supportive thoughts!

Kiwimum: Yeah, I've had days like that. You and I have very similar stats, and sometimes I get a little freaked out too. *Hugs*

Look Good Feel Better was good.  Heaps of free makeup and quite fun. 

I enjoyed talking with the other women and being able to share "our normal".

Everyone have a great week end. Stay cool

I'm in the chair for my last taxotere, hurray!

And no last Carboplatin due to how it's been affecting my hearing!

So no more chemo, double hurray!

Just good ol' Herceptin until April 2012.

Nails: women pay good money to get the design I currently have on my fingernails: 5 white rings, one for each taxotere, and sure to be a 6th ring by next week. I've iced each time, so figure it might have been worse, but who knows. And I know the damage keeps coming till they grow all the way out. But still, today, they're looking designer...

My eye lashes and brows are coming back.... so is my leg hair...sigh

I am 5 weeks out from my last TC. Fuzz on top still increasing but not enough to take off the scarf yet.

i haven't lost all of my eyebrows or lashes!! they are thinner but still hanging on!! i guess that is a good thing! my friend did a special on folding chairs at dicks sporting goods on my last treatment!! i'll try to upload the photo!

have a great weekend ladies!! i hope you all stay cool and least amont of SE!! now if i could just taste something!!!  lol....

So Sorry Sue to hear you were sick with an infection. Be good to yourself and take it easy.

merilee do you have to take tamoxifen? and have they started you on it?i was wondering about cost  also?

I've got about an inch and a half of hair, since it's been a while since the AC. (The TDM1 I am on does not cause hair loss.) This pixie cut is actually kind of cute, though it ages me a lot.

The bummer is that I will lose it all again when I start Taxotere in September, but at least now I know it does grow back.

On another topic, I have a word of advice to all: GOOD DENTAL CARE. I went to the dentist today for my six month cleaning and discovered that I have new decay. Ack!

I have always been really careful with my dental hygiene, brushed, flossed daily, etc. but I have apparently slacked off a little lately because of the tender, bleeding gums, which was bad enough. But apparently the dry mouth caused by chemo makes it especially easy to get a cavity.

So be extra careful with your teeth, keep your mouth hydrated with non-sugary drinks, and don't put off a cleaning if your white cell count is high enough to do it. I may have saved my teeth today!

Hi everyone. I haven't had a chance to catch up with the posts. I have been so busy and sick as well. After the last chemo, I got very sick with fungus, bone pain, nose bleeds, blurred vision, blood under fingernails, diarreah, weak and exhausted. I have my sixth chemo session coming up. Can't believe it's my last one. Hope I don't get as sick this time. Everything after that moves down to Herceptin every three weeks, along with radiation five days a week. Don't want to get to far ahead of myself. Just want to get this last chemo in and recover from that. My thoughts and prayers are for everyone who is fighting this cancer demon. Lets warrior on. Hope to get caught up on the posts and enjoy my day tomorrow before treatment starts.