April 2011 chemo

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited October 2011

    Merilee: Happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited October 2011

    Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I had a wonderful day full of gratitude for standing in the day.

    Lots of deep thoughts about what I want for this next year.

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  • CarlaB76
    CarlaB76 Member Posts: 74
    edited October 2011

    Hi Ladies!  I've been taking a little break for a couple weeks just trying to re-center.  I've been desperate to pretend (for a little while at least) that I could put aside Breast Cancer.  But how impossible is that to do in Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

    Chemo was done on 9/22 and I took last week off of work to do some yoga and just spend some time on my own.  I'd love to say things are getting back to normal, but it's a new normal.  I need to fill my script for Tamoxifen and start that up this weekend.

    I need to go back and catch up on everyone.  

    Merilee...Happy Birthday!  PM me your email address so I can send you the contact list I pulled together.

    I miss you all!

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited October 2011

    Hey, Carla!  I can't wait to hear about Tamoxifin.  I have a while before I start since I'm in the middle of my AC, but I'm a bit nervous about heading back to work on Tamoxifin and Herceptin.  I'm sure it will all be fiine, but it will be a new normal since it's 5 years (well, only 1 for Herceptin). 

    Love to you all.

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  • Sudzinvermont
    Sudzinvermont Member Posts: 70
    edited October 2011

    Hey Carla...and Profbee. I sat and looked at my bottle of Tamoxifin for 2 weeks before I started and have had no se's at all. I was so nervous about it and expected the worst, but it's been pretty mild.

    I did have some trouble sleeping the first week or so, but I have trouble with sleeping all the time, no surprise there. I started taking the Tamoxifin first thing in the morning and have been sleeping better. So I'm going on my 5th. week now and haven't had any se's at all. :)

    Profbee I'm back at work with Tamoxifin and Herceptin, I still don't have much wind in my sails and get tired easier than before, but I build up a little steam each day.....so will you.

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited October 2011

    Awesome news, Sudz.  Awesome.  That's what I've heard to expect--some fatigue, but manageable.  I've been taking 2 ativan to sleep since the first round of chemo.  I cannot sleep at all without it.  It's crazy. 

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited October 2011

    Here's me at a recent meeting - you cant see my fuzz!

     

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  • KiwiMum
    KiwiMum Member Posts: 704
    edited October 2011

    Happy birthday Merilee.



    I too am about to start Tamoxifen. In 3 days in fact. Fingers crossed for no SEs. The hot flashes I've had through chemo are already getting on top of me - hideous, especially at night.



    Nice to see you post Carla.

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  • sarahlou1967
    sarahlou1967 Member Posts: 153
    edited October 2011

    Hi Ladies, 

    Thought I'd pitch in here as we are talking about tamoxifen, I started about 20 days ago one 20mg tablet a day, I was also dreading what the SE would be like, also had been put into early menopause with the chemo and am suffering with loads of hot flushes, however so far so good on the tami, hot flushes did increase for the first week or so but seem to be calming down a bit now, some unusual occasional joint pain again nothing to really be bothered about and also so far no hormonal migranne headache.  

    Hope you are all doing well on your treatments, sending you love and light

    Sarah sweety xxx 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2011

    Hi, All. I've been laying low for a bit like Carla.  But I'm still here, sending love and light to all of you.

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  • artiecat
    artiecat Member Posts: 257
    edited October 2011

    Well, saw the RO yesterday...my three docs have decided no radiation.  Kind of a shock, even though I didnt want to do it.  So, other than monthly shots of faslodex and xgeneva, I guess I am done. 

    A very weird feeling.  Treatment has been my life since April - now back to real life - even though real life has changed.  Very strange!!!!

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited October 2011

    Articat- Time to celebrate Life! Do all the things you have always wanted to do! Got a list yet?

    I would love to here what is on it.

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  • pawprintgirl24
    pawprintgirl24 Member Posts: 173
    edited October 2011

    hi all!i have been very busy and tired!!i did the susan g komen 5k yesterday!!i hope i can run it next year! we had a blast! then celebrated with friends last night.

    last rad was monday so it was sooo nice to get a lunch break!i haven't had one in 6 weeks!

    happy late birthday merilee!!

    my friend that was dx is having surgery tomorrow morninge has to have chemo and shes her2+ she might get the same cocktail.as me.

    i went out last night for the first time with just my little fuss on my head. it was kinda nice and my duaghter said i was cute actaully adorible!lol just gave me boost of confidense to go out without a hat!

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  • scc218
    scc218 Member Posts: 163
    edited October 2011

    Welcome back, Carla and Windlass!  We missed you!

    BernieEllen -- I think it's so cool that you got married on your 50th birthday!  And I know you'll look gorgeous with the new hair and teeth. 

    ArtieCat -- Congrats on the no rads!  As Merilee said -- Time to celebrate life!  Do things you enjoy.  Start putting all this crap behind you and move on.....But don't leave the forum -- we still want to hear from you!

    Pawprint -- Congrats on the 5K and the last rad!  AND on going out with just the fuzz.  I haven't ventured out without a hat yet.  My fuzz is ugly -- very patchy and different colors.  I need for it to grow some more.  Sure is taking its sweet time.

    We're in the mountains of North Carolina, enjoying some cool weather and fall foliage.  I finished my Lovenox injections but still have to take the Coumadin and wear the awful compression stockings -- all for the DVT.  My eyes are still watering like crazy -- leftover side effect from chemo -- and taste buds still suck.  Hopefully those things will improve.

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited October 2011

    Hi to everyone.  Had a great weekend away but fell out of the bed in the hotel.  Nice big bruise on my back.

    Starting to struggle a bit with the rads.  Very red and itchy. They have given me cream to use twice a day.

    Weather awful, gale blowing. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2011

    Just checking in with my progress - I get Taxotere 3 of 4 on Wednesday. Had a nice family vacation this week and am anjoying the Fall weather. Sending warm thoughts to all of you who are in chemo still, in rads treatment, taking the hormonal pills, and totally done.

    Thanks for the kindness, Suzy. And l-Love to Carla and Rangermom, who have needed a break from us. (*laugh*)

    Anyone here still not had her surgery?

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited October 2011

    Hi windlass, great to hear from you. warm thoughts to you

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited October 2011

    Windlass there is light at the end of your tunnel!

    Image Detail

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2011

    Nice picture, and nice thought Merilee. And thank you too, Bernie Ellen. I'm headed off tomorrow for another blast at these cancer cells (if there even are any left, which I hope there aren't). I'm feeling very blue and miserable tonight for some reason. I hope you're all doing better.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited October 2011

    Windlass- we are not surprised at how you are feeling. You have had a very long and rough road. A few more steps , my brave one, and things will lighten up, one foot in front of the other sometimes right? Do you bring your lap top to treatment? I will check to see if you are on when I finish my appointments. Try to think of that chemo as some kind of sweep or net gathering up even the tiniest cells that may even remotely look funky. I used a vicious dog image that sniffed out funky cells and tore them to hell as an image that worked for me. Kind of like an imaginary drug trained dog but for imperfect cells, dead or alive. This helped me think of the chemo as my friend and not the enemy.

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited October 2011

    Hi to everyone.

    Merilee, i like your way of thinking.  

    Windlass, thinking of you today.  Stay strong.

    Just done 17/30 rads - over half way and feeling good about it.

    Warm thoughts to you all 

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited October 2011

    Windlas-#3 is down only one more! Hang tough lady, you are  to winning this fight!

    Bernie- you are past the half way mark, Now the countdown begins! You will be done before  you know it! Just about the  same time Windlass has her last Chemo.

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  • scc218
    scc218 Member Posts: 163
    edited October 2011

    It has been awfully quiet on here for days.  I hope that means everyone is doing well.  We're on the last week of our month-long RV road trip.  I'm finally starting to feel good, as of this past week.  Taste buds are even coming back.  The eyes are still watering/crying like crazy, which is a huge annoyance.  And my fingernails are extremely ugly -- totally black and blue and sore.  Other than that, doing okay.  On Halloween, I have to have my INR checked (for the DVT), my port flushed, and get "tattooed and molded" for rads.  I see my onco on 11/4 about the DVT and then start rads on 11/7.  Onto the next phase......   Sending hugs to everybody.

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  • KiwiMum
    KiwiMum Member Posts: 704
    edited October 2011

    Hi everyone. Yes it's been quiet on here ... I too hope that's because everyone is too busy enjoying life.

    Me, I'm onto Phase 2.  I started Tamoxifen last week and had #1 of 25 rads today.

    I can't say I feel any effects from the Tamox yet.  I was already having hot flashes from chemo.

    Rads was also uneventful.  I felt a bit claustrophic and anxious but I'm sure that will pass as I progress through.

    April seems a long time ago. 

    Hugs x

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  • BernieEllen
    BernieEllen Member Posts: 2,445
    edited October 2011

    Hi scc - i had agood tip from profbee for the nails.  soak in hot water with epsom salts as often as you can - really helps.

    Hi Kiwimum, you do get used to the rads, I have 11 to go out of 30.  Not too bad, starting to burn butit's bearable and the nurse gave me good cream. 

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  • scc218
    scc218 Member Posts: 163
    edited October 2011

    Kiwimum -- congrats on starting the rads and Tamox.  Hope it's smooth sailing for you on both accounts.

    BernieEllen -- thanks for the tip on the nails.  Won't soaking them make them fall off?  My husband had suggested Epsom salts, but I was afraid they would definitely fall off then.

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited October 2011

    Nails+

    I used a hot wax dipper for dryness and I also used anti fungal at night under my nails and used white cotton gloves to sleep in after putting coconut oil on my hands..

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  • scc218
    scc218 Member Posts: 163
    edited October 2011

    Thanks for the tip on the nails, Merilee.

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  • Sudzinvermont
    Sudzinvermont Member Posts: 70
    edited October 2011

    I thought I was getting away without any nail issues...Wrong! They are pealing and hurt like crazy... I can't wait until they grow out healthy again.

    Hope everyone is well, I am. Laughing

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  • profbee
    profbee Member Posts: 858
    edited October 2011

    Hey all!  I didn't SOAK too long with them, but the Epsom salt really helped me.  :)  I also just stopped up the tub, threw some in the bottom, and let it fill as I took a shower for the toenails...no extra time and mess, but a little soothing.  I also kept them as SHORT as possible so they wouldn't just lift up. 

    I've had 3 of 4 AC treatments.  Bummed about losing the hair again, but I really cannot complain.  I haven't had any of the bad SEs from AC.  I've been so lucky really.  One more and then it's just exchange surgery and wait a while for nips and tatts.  :)  Oh, and I guess the Herceptin and Tamoxifin, but everyone keeps telling me that's not a real biggie--let's hope they're right! 

    Gosh, we've been through so much, eh women?  I'm so proud of us and the support we've been to one another. 

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