Is there a July 2011 group?
Comments
-
thanks ANA424 and ellenquilt.
Ellenquilt I find I need compazine at the weirdest times. Often times in the afternoon and sort of out of the blue.
-
bcisnofun-YEAH! Congrats! You climb that chemo mountain and keep going. Right back in to a healthy happy life
-
ellenquilt: I find that I need the nausea meds when I am really being rushed at work for a deadline, only when working onsite. At home, I rush all the time, but not with a hovering boss.
ANA_424: I have been to Zingerman's. It is awesome. If you go, look up Ann Arbor Art Fairs. There are four or five in July every year on the same dates, that spread throughout the entire city. There is special busing and parking outside the city, and maps that show you the spread of each fair so that you can get off the bus in the type of art fair that you are most interested in. I spent two days there by myself one year and didn't get through it all, but it was so much fun. It is a great destination event.
Did anyone see my post last night on cbc results and red blood cell counts? Any thoughts on that?
-
Hi Jbug - I just had my levels drawn today. My RBC's were 3.56 vs. normal range of 3.8-5.1. My hemoglobin was 10.8 vs. normal range of 11.7 to 15.5. So both were a little low. They seem to focus on the level entitled on my report grans, absolute. They said if that's low, we postpone chemo. I was within normal limits on that one and we did chemo today. I asked how to increase hemoglobin and she said make sure I'm eating some red meat. Not sure if that helps or not???
-
Hi Ana_424 and J-Bug --- Had to miss the Art Fair this year because it came after my first infusion but would love to show you all around next year or whenever to celebrate our recoveries/survivals. Always the third Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in July. And Zingerman's now has a Roadhouse restaurant in town that alone is worth the trip.
Congrats to bcisnofun!!! Let us know what it's like to come out of the last infusion. My last chemo is in three weeks. Can't wait to get there but scarey not knowing what to expect. Take care of yourself.
-
Congrats to our first "graduate" BCisnofun!
I think the granulocytes are a better indicator of your ability to fight infection. I believe it is a breakdown of the WBC. My HBG dropped 2 points with my first tx but has now hovers just above 10. I think the chemotherapy interferes with the bone morrow production of new cells. So I am not sure if diet will have a huge affect. But certainly should not hurt to eat red meat and dark green veggies. Obviously this is a great question for your doc.
Just read your thread.... Anemic patients can also get a shot like neulasta to boost bone morrow production but it has risks too. Not good for everyone and every situation. Chemotherapy fog preventing me remembering the name but ask your doc.
I have not had a long conversation with my doc about the thyroid issue. I have some research to do too. Odd that no one saw a lump before and now I can see it on my own. So suspect there is some connection between BC or BC tx. -
Bcisnofun - In my case red meat helped to incresed mine.
-
thanks Ralston, Izzy, KHS and dexxy! Can't wait to have all of you guys join me on the other side of this chemo journey. My NP said I'll feel pretty good again in a week or so like I have been in my better weeks. But then she said in week 3 and 4 out, I'll realize that I'd forgotten how it felt to feel really good and energetic (except ellenquilt who is in her steroid rushes is more energetic than I ever am!
). Can't wait for that. thanks Ana, Izzy and Dexxy for the tip on thyroids. I would never have known there is/could be a connection. I'll read more on that and be on the lookout.
ladyboss, let us know how your brca's turn out - hopefully negative!
-
J-Bug - My hemoglobin has managed to stay above 10 (barely). I'm at 10.1. But my RBC were at 3.06 on Tuesday and my hematacrit was 28.8. I'm definitely feeling the affects of the anemia. I was told no blood transfusions unless my hemoglobin was <8. Looks like your hemoglobin is lower than mine. Are you also experiencing a rapid pulse and low blood pressure? Good luck with your first Taxol tomorrow. See below for my experience so far.
ladyboss - I had the BRCA 1 and 2 tests done and it came back negative for me. My understanding is insurance will typically pay for it if you are younger when you got breast cancer and/or have a strong family history. I believe BRCA carriers tend to end up with more triple negative cancers too, but I'm not entirely sure about that right now with my chemo brain. Do you fit into any of these categories? Praying for a negative result.
Izzy - I'm so happy your lump doesn't appear to be life threatening. I think part of this whole cancer thing is that we're going to be paranoid about every little thing, but we have every right to be. I hope you get the answers you're looking for.
bcisnofun - Congrats on being DONE! I cannot wait to join you and move on from all of this. It will be awesome once we're ALL done!
AFM - Had my first Taxol on Tuesday. Was there for about 8 hours (including blood work and seeing my doctor). As I was told, I got benadryl through the IV before my infusion and it made me sleepy which I suppose was good to pass some of the time. I was doing okay yesterday (day 2) until I had to give myself my Neulasta shot. I think some of the s/e I've had with chemo all along are Neulasta related. The bone pain started last night and neuropathy started yesterday too and both have been steadily getting worse. It's manageable for now, but we'll see how it holds up. I'm having a hard time with foods since I can't taste them like I should. So I have no appetite because I can't enjoy food right now. I'm just trying to eat as many fruits and veggies to get my nutrients anyway, but it's definitely hard. I also was awake for about 2 1/2 hours in the middle of the night last night, which was no fun. I just need to get past the next few days and hopefully things will get better again. One Taxol down. 3 to go.
-
kk11: I can't believe that you were there for 8 hours on Tuesday! I am getting ready for my first Taxol this morning and they told me to plan on "at least 4 hrs". My husband was going with me for this one, being the first of a new drug, but he works 2nd shift hours. Now I wonder if this could make him late. We'll just have to see I guess.
Thanks for sharing some numbers everyone. It helps to see when we are all in such similar places in treatment. It puts it all into perspective. The first time they told me I was low on RBC and might need a transfusion if it got too low, I started worrying. I let that get to me. So this time, I wanted to look for some facts and numbers so that I would not get into the emotional side of it. So your participation helped a lot!
I am off to see the wizard!!
-
Good morning ladies! My next day in the chair is 9/1, so I am feeling quite perky right now. I am going to enjoy it while I can. I wanted to share something I got hold of yesterday:
Attitude is Everything -
A woman woke woke up one morning and looke in the mirror. She had only 3 hairs left on her head. So she said "I think I will braid my hair today". She did, and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up and only had two hairs on her head. "Hmmm" she said, "I think I will part my hair down the middle today". She did, and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up and had only one hair on her head. "well" she said, "today I think I will wear my hair in a ponytail". She did, and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up and had no hair at all. "Yea" she said, "I don't have to fix my hair today"
Attitude is Everything!v
-
how appropriate ladyboss. I hate being bald, but I have to say I can get ready in record time now! And what we save on hair supplies and salon cuts!
jbug - thinking of you today and hoping for an uneventful infusion.
Have a good day everyone!
-
J-Bug: Good luck with the Taxol infusion! And thanks to all of you for the info on the spontaneous need for compazine. Made me feel better. I just always keep the pills in my bag. Along with Immodium, Benedryl. Zantac, Tylenol and Biotene spray. And Tic Tacs. LOL. More meds than makeup...almost.
Ladyboss, loved your little "hair story". I feel the same way. Bald is beautiful and takes no maintenance at all, aside from sunscreen and a hat. Love it.
Heading off for week 6 of the first 12 at La Spa Chemo - hopefully less reaction to the Abraxane and slower infusion. It's the premeds that kill me. Already took 160 mg of Dexamethasone. Steroid rush here we go again. I'll be a chripy chipmunk for the next few days. My family will just love that. Not. LOL
I did tell my boss/friend yesterday that I think I will take off all the Fridays that I'm taking the Abraxane with the Herceptin (through beginning of October) because I'm just going to be there for too many hours to work. And I'd like to lower my stress. She is so beyond good about it -- I just adore her and love working with her. I am blessed. She wants me to do whatever I have to do to get better. Gotta love that girl!
On the way have to pick up hurricane supplies. I live in a flood plain. AArghhh. Just what I'll be wanting to do on Sunday, crash day. Evacuating to my ex and his girlfriend on the north shore. (Good thing we all get along well). However, I'm still hoping we can sit this one out at home like we've done with all the others over the past 30 years. We will be stocked with storm stuff and I required both my boys to be home this weekend for extra help. There is a reason I had them after all.
Not leaving unless evac is mandatory. I have to protect my wigs and my knitting! -
ellenquilt - good luck with the infusion today. I'll look forward to your next steroid-fueled posts. ;-) Assuming you have power, of course. Hope the hurricane passes by with no damage to you and yours!
ladyboss - I liked the hair story, too :-)
kk11 - hope the SEs pass quickly. J-bug - I hope your experience with Taxol is ok, too. I'm sure it is scary starting something new at this point, but at least it is progress! You'll be done with this, too, before you know it!
About the thyroid - I'm not sure if there is a connection. I actually had the first thyroid biopsy a few years ago because I could feel the lump. It eventually disappeared. Now that I have that history, they are monitoring it. I do wonder, though, having read about others here experiencing something unusual with the thyroid. It is all about hormones, after all.
Yesterday I went to a yoga class at Gilda's Club. It was really nice - just a few people and a very sweet teacher. About halfway through, though, I started feeling tired and that made me so frustrated. By the end, I was fighting tears. I really have not been feeling very emotional lately so it really caught me off guard. We were doing the final pose - just lying down resting basically - and tears were running down my face. When I got to my car, I really had a good cry. Strange how that happens - the feelings just snuck up on me.
-
Ellenquilt - all the best with chemo spa today, hope you ahve minimal SEs. And hope the hurricane losses strenght bu the time it lands in NY and MA, we are expecting it on sunday. We were planning to drive up to MD/DC area tomorrow for vacation but decided to wait for "irene" to pass, so it'll be sunday night or monday. Looking forward for the time off with family.
Take care all.
-
ANa: La Spa was great today. No reactions, slightly less 'roids, but still enough for me to go out on Sunday and blow that F*&kin hurricane back out to sea. Then I'm going to pull out the 50 foot blue spruce on my lawn that's leaning toward my house and plunk it down in another spot so it's vertically straight. All by myself. Then I guess I have to move the cars, by hand of course, to higher ground. If I wait for my boys to do it I'll have to wring them out dry (cars, not boys, but that IS a thought...) I suppose I could stack them on top of my van.
Yes, my name is Ellen and I'm a Roidaholic again. Brace yourselfs for my lunatic rants all weekend as I have too much energy, not enough productive stuff to do and a nicely threatening hurricane approaching threatening flooding in the house and trees crashing on what the floods don't soak. Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride. LOL
Instead of taking 40 mg of dexamethasone night before and morning, I only took 36. Another batch in the IV. But at least I didn't get the reaction booster dose once the Abraxane kicked in. We're doing really slow infusion. Two hours instead of 30 minutes for my dose and that seems to work fine.
Leaving the rest of the storm prep to my eldest. He and girlfriend live on the lower level (street level, but we flood there) so it's up to them now to protect their own stuff. I'm going out with the Red Hats to see The Help and have dinner out. It's good to be Queen.
Be back later. Not sleeping, You can count on it.
-
So I spent six hours in the chair today! With AC it was three-four. So far it was pretty uneventful except for the length of time.
I was told that I didn't need to take the Dexamethasone (steroid) with this drug unless I really find some issues with nausea. I did have some in the iv though along with Benadryl. I am so glad to not have to go through the steroid rush. That gets really old. I also have to take steroids when I get an MRI with contrast because of a reaction to the die, so I have been getting quite a bit of them. I hate that up for several days with no sleep and then the crash and not being able to do anything but sleep.
Happy Friday to everyone!
-
Hi there, If you haven't read it already, there's a good post in the just diagnosed section from someone about being 29 months post diagnosis. I thought it was really well written and inspirational that we will all get to a new normal that's somewhat normal.
jbug - hope the se's are minimal
ANA424 - sorry the tears snuck up on you. They are indeed sneaky that way. Hope you are feeling better now.
ellenquilt - I agree with ana424 - love your steroid rush stories. I don't get that high, but I sure get the low a few days later. Wish I had the energy to pull a couple of trees out!
I had my neulasta shot today. Want to just lay in a chair, but with a 7 year old, not so easy. I wonder how long it takes for the taste in your mouth to finally go away after chemo is over?
Have a good night everyone
Pam
-
Oh Ellenquilt...you are just too much!!!!! Love ya! Hey, can you stand along the Atlantic with "roid energy" and blow f***in' Irene out to sea. I know you can do it!!! We live near the Chesapeake Bay in MD and we are going to take a serious hit. Our boat is in the water, and we hope she'll make it.
Anyway, praying all sisters and their loved ones are safe and secure as this storm passes by. What is going on here, first an earthquake and now this. Strange days???
Hugs, Debbie
-
bcisnofun - Chemo Congratulations sista! You are on your way...soon to be deported. Can't wait to join you soon.
ladyboss - "Attitude is everything" !!!
paintingmyway... Haven't seen you post in a few. Worried how you are managing with the pending storm. Hope you are not in harms way and wish the storm will weaken rapidly and all is well.
-
Two days after last A/C and feeling pretty rough. Glad to be home and resting. Hoping taxol is so much easier, because these last two chemos have kicked my ass!
-
J-Bug: my bloodwork before #4 AC (8/18) was RBC 3.54 and HGB 10.5 which is not horribly low, but I have spent the last week in bed. I am so wiped out. MO only recommeded taking multi-vitamins. Each day is better, but really want to speed this up. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Ok I have a heartburn question, for those of you using Prilosec are you taking it every day or just as the course treatment? I took the course treatment was doing good and after a few days heartburn came back.
-
Cathy_C: I have been taking Omeprazole (the generic for Prilosec) since day two of first treatment. I had two days where I forgot it or just couldn't get it, and regretted it sincerely. I can't make it through an entire day without very painful heartburn if I skip it. I also take Maalox a few times a week when that is not enough. Those were my doctor's recommendations, and it keeps it all bearable. When I did my first Taxol today, they told me that there was also Omeprazole in the iv. So I am guessing the need for it continues through this drug as well.
-
wow, I have some catching up to do! 3 pages I am behind
have been busy, feeling great, doing lots. Will have to read all the posts and get back to everyone.
hugs to all!
-
Cathy_C - It sure does seem like the heartburn is a common SE with most of us. I take Prevacid which I think to be a slightly different med than Prilosec but used for the same. I used to take it for stomach issues prior to this chemo thing. It really helps with the heartburn and burpy acidy stomach I get after treatment. I take it as needed. It seems to work fairly quickly for me. After the second week as I am preparing for my next treatment, it usually isn't an issue any more and I stop taking it. I hope this helps.
-
Finally day 11 after 2nd Chemo feeling normal had a great day out with Fam and dinner,I was ready to give up and not go for 3rd Chemo round in Sep 6th but I might hang in now.Hope everyone is having a S/E free day and those close the store please stay safe thinking of you.
-
rabbit: I thought you would appreciate this link on teeth issues related to chemo. http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/27/topic/773710
Enjoy!
-
Okay. So I had a GREAT day at La Spa. Hoped to NOT evacuate and then they made it mandatory. So I'm heading off to my ex and his girlfriend with my eldest and his girlfriend. My youngest is going to stay in Brooklyn with his girlfriend so she won't be alone. I'm the only one without a girlfriend here. But I don't play on the other team. Yet. You never know. LOL We are all awake and packing for our different destinations and figuring out what to take that might get destroyed when we leave. The bright side is that the tenant in the house upstairs is moving out so we may be able to "squat" in the two bedroom upstairs for a couple of days instead of cramming into the smaller apartment of my ex. The animals would then have a place to explore and play when out of their crates. The cats and dog, not my son and his girlfriend, although there are times when I confuse them. Pre chemo. So I can't blame it on that LOLNot happy about any of this for sure. But that's life, isn't it? Fingers crossed. My younger son sees this as a great survival adventure. He's having entirely too much fun with this as I envision trees crashing into my house and flood waters covering my lower levels. (of the house, not me, as I will not be here to be covered with flood waters.)Only 1:30 in the morning and I'm still wide wide awake. Going to be a loooooooonnnnng night. Time to knit.Good luck to all in the path of this annoying bitch storm. Wishes for SE free days for everyone!
-
ellenquilt - you crack me up. I hope you are safe with this storm and your house and things in it stay dry.
Sandy115, I said the same thing after round 2. I really felt like quitting. But then came 3 and then came 4 and I'm sure glad I kept going and they are over. It's great you had a nice day and night out - that sure helps. My nurse said by week 2 after chemo totally over I'll feel good again. Then by week 3 and 4 after it's over, I'll remember what it feels like to feel REALLY good. So I'm hopeful that's true. A friend told me temporary and forward. What you are going through is temporary...keep moving forward. I remembered those words a lot through this.
rabbit - welcome back. We missed you!
pink palatte - I had heartburn after last tx. It hasn't started yet with this one. Thanks for the tip on prevacid. I'll get it when/if it kicks up again.
I had my last treatment on Thursday and always go downhill Sat night and stay there for 3-5 days. I'm able to work but not much else. I'm hoping the knowledge that this is the last time will keep it bearable.
Good luck to everyone in the path of the storm. wishing you all SE free days.
-
Good morning ladies! I see all this talk about heartburn. Knock on wood - I haven't had any. My dad did chemo 9 years ago. He took PB8, which is a good pro-biotic. He said it kept him from having heartburn and mouthsores. So I started taking it a couple of weeks prior to my 1st chemo. 2 of 4 tx down, and I haven't had problems with heartburn or mouth soreness.
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team