October 2011 Chemo group

For those of you in need of a pretty head cover - try this site

http://www.gailafund.org/site/index.php

They will send you a free one if you are losing your hair.   I just got mine today and it is really pretty.

wow those hats are beautiful!! I wonder if anyone knows of a link to make them ourselves.

Its on my bucket list to learn how to use my sewing machine 

Good Morning!

fredntan and others here are a few links for sewing hats. Some are free patterns and some you have to buy.

http://www.brimmingwithlove.com/patterns.html

http://www.nancysnotions.com/text/pdf/CKEasyHat.pdf 

http://www.fmfcorp.com/familyspot/haircover.html#Sewing 

tappy I just got mine too from gaila fund and it is beautiful!

Also I have made many bandanas 30x30 in all sorts of cute cotton fabric. My sister-in-law just sent one to me made of flannel. It feels so good on my head because it is so soft and as it is getting a little colder in WI it is very much appreciated. I never realized how much my hair helped me stay warm on the cold windy day! The ears and the back of the neck get so cold brrrr!

Thanks for sharing pictures!

Have a great day everyone! 

Hi everyone - hope your week is starting off great.  Terry -you look beautiful - with or without hair.  I sure hope mine comes back just as thick and pretty as yours.  I had really straight hair before - and thin.  Michelle - I love your hair color too.  You look sooooo sophisticated!  I can't remember how many weeks out you are from your last treatment but wanted to ask if you are starting to feel like yourself yet.  It seems the more treatments I take the more the chemo brain/fog kicks in.  It's kind of scary sometimes. 

My sisters came this weekend for TX3.  We were talking about my cat and I called her "Maggie" and immediately knew something was wrong but couldn't figure out what it is was (her name is "Mattie").  Was driving them around and stopped at drug store.  I looked up and saw an angel pin on the visor and didn't have a clue where it came from.  Well, I wasn't in my car - I was in my sisters' car!!  I'm doing things like this all the time now.  Anybody else?  Just can't find the words sometimes. I sure hope this goes away after treatment.

Malinda - sure hope everthing goes great with your treatments.  You are such an uplifting person.  You help encourage me on days when I've once again let my big girl panties slide down and am having a pity party. 

Hope everyone has a restful night.  Talk to you tomorrow!

Carla - thanks!  I am 6.5 weeks post-chemo and I am feeling really good, almost 100% normal.  Not 100% because I had surgery to remove my tissue expanders at the request of my radiation oncologist and now I'm dealing with foobs, which are a bit of a pain, although less so than the discomfort of tissue expanders.  I have to say that I didn't seem to get "chemo brain" but my DH sure as heck did!  He can't remember anything these days...LOL!  It's become a family joke!

Connie - I was told I had a 70% chance of recurrence by my first radiation oncologist, but a 30% chance by the second one, who happens to be the Chief of Radiation Oncology at Dana Farber.  Radiation reduces my risk to 10%, so I must do it.    You're probably Stage 3, and it does have a higher recurrence rate but radiation will reduce that significantly.  Are you taking Claritin for the bone pain after Neulasta?  I took it the day of and four days after the shot, and I didn't have any bone pain at all.  I did have some joint pain during days 4 and 5 after each of my 4 Taxol treatments.

Just got home from MO app, last chemo for sure Nov 17th, Picc line comes OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! herceptin for 1 yr and onto rads....... Sheesh after this treatment thats gonna be a walk in the park..... Right?? LOL 

TallM: wow thats awesome so happy for you, doing the happy dance with ya :-)  

Good Morning everyone,

RULiving, no I didnt try the claritin, but you can bet I will. Too many people keep telling me that, so cant hurt to try right? And yes im stage 3. Just seems so daunting. Tallm and Teri yeah for the both of you!!! And Carla, I have been doing things like you for about 2 years now, like not being able to remembeer names of certain things, like chair or car or uh uh uh.... I thought I was going through menopause or going crazy. And yes I have tried to get in other peoples cars, duh? lol I hate to see what this chemo gonna do to me. Love to all

Connie

Woo Hoo - so nice to get on here and see some good news.  Malinda and Terry - I'm doing the happy dance for you. 

I've managed to get through today even though it's Day 4 post-treatment and it usually kicks my butt.  No breakdowns - just really REALLY tired.  I just have to think positive though - half-way finished with chemo.  Woo Hoo!!  It's all down hill from here baby! 

I hope you all have a great night. 

Hi, everyone. Just got caught up on posts, and I love the strength and support here!!! We ladies are truly awesome. I think we are all beautiful with our bare heads, maybe I'm just getting used to it. But I think our beauty comes from within so all of you look beautiful to me!

Yesterday I attended the Look Good Feel Better class at the cancer center, one of the sponsors is the American Cancer Society. It is a free class for women going through treatment, and they give you a free gift bag full of nice makeup and show how to use it. They also talk about wig care and scarf tying. If any of you haven't heard of it, you can check to see if they have one in your area at: www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org    or call  1-800-395-5665. Or contact your local ACS office.

I love the pictures! I'm too much of a computer dunce and I don't have the energy to figure it out right now, but maybe my sister can help me post a pic when she comes.

And thanks for the links to hat patterns. I am knitting a cute hat, and I can sew, but again, my energy is so low I haven't made any yet.   

Treatment #3 tomorrow, not looking forward to the next week. But my sister is coming so that will be great. I already told my family that I will not be doing any cooking for Thanksgiving, so they will have to figure it out. I'm going to try to relax and enjoy the moment, and smile as much as I can, and I know that will mean more to my family than any beautiful meal or clean house. 

Have a great week everyone, and keep drinking!

Barb 

Sounds like there's lots of good news here.  Terry - congrats on your last tx, Malinda - happy for your most excellent progress, Michelle - for getting  your "normal" back!

Michelle - how long did it take to get your scarf from Good Wishes?  I ordered mine about 5 weeks ago and haven't gotten it yet.  

Barb - I have my Look Good Feel Better class on Monday.  Was supposed to be last week, but got cancelled because of too few people signed up. Can't believe that with all the people who go to my cancer center! Anyway, now I have to go to a different site. Can't wait, I've heard such good things about it.  Don't dread next week.  Let's just look at it as that much closer to being done!

Hugs everyone! 

Hi All-

It sounds like a good week for all indeed:) So glad to hear. Just want to say a quick hi & that I've enjoyed reading everyones post:) There is definitely strength in numbers. I've used so many of the tips you've given & the info is priceless! I've even been able to pass on info to my Chemo buddies @ the hospital:).



Good luck the rest of the week. I'm taking a day off tomorrow from going to the hospital! I'm so excited:) The countdown is still on. Yahoo!



Hugs-

Malinda

Normandy-

I have had all yes. When I had my bad week last week I couldn't even sit uprigt for very long w/o feeling like I was going to pass out. The cold is a body response to protect itself. In fact when I walked I couldnt walk upright I leaned on my parents & was hunched over. At one point he nurse had to grab hold of me beacause I was going to fall. This week is much better & I think all the meds/Chemo caught up with me. I hope yours will pass soon. Mine lasted about a week. Not the most fun to be down but it should go away.



I also get still get night sweats even though I don't always have a fever. If I do get a fever it's been in the morning.



Good luck & I hope you get better soon!

Hugs-Malinda

TaIIM: Thanks for your quick reply! This has been a busy week at work--and I also have my husband in bed with a chest and sinus infection and my daughter home with a migraine--so a full house these past few days!

 Take care!

Ladies - the scarves will arrive, I promise.  I think it was at least six weeks before I received mine. 

Regarding the light-headed feelings, it is probably caused by low red blood counts.  I was anemic and I experienced the feeling several times.  I also had a fairly low blood pressure, and that can cause it, too. 

Auntienance - great explanation of the esophageal reflux problem.  I took OTC prilosec and then OTC pepcid and that worked for me.  I took it every day until a couple weeks post final chemo.  I was always in the chair for at least five hours.  By the time I got an hour of hydration even before my pre-meds, then 15 minutes of saline between adriamycin and cytoxan, and the cytoxan took an hour, well it was just about 5 hours.  When I switched to Taxol, same thing except Taxol was a 3 hour drip.  Slow infusion prevents some of the headaches with cytoxan and the allergic reactions with taxol or taxotere.

Stjude - I hope you can get your blood sugars in control. Because I am diabetic, my steroid dosage with dose dense AC was just 6 mg on treatment day and none on any other days. Try talking to your onc about giving this minimal dosage a try.  If you're not having any excessive nausea issues, 6 mg may be enough.

Small frequent meals got me through treatment and kept me mostly nausea-free.  Even now, I am still not able to eat a "normal" portion of food.  I didn't gain any weight during chemo, actually lost a couple of pounds. 

Anyone (and especially you diabetics) who will be taking Taxol or Taxotere should discuss with your oncologist some supplements to prevent neuropathy.   Here is a link to a Phase 3 clinical trial using acetyl-l-carnitine for prevention.  I took it on my own and have not had a problem at all:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00775645

I also have taken L-Glutamine and Vitamin B6.  I discussed these with my oncologist and she supported my taking these supplements.

You are all doing a great job!  Keep it up, keep drinking, take care of yourself and listen to your body.

Hugs to all,

Michelle

Michelle, I already had neuropathy in my feet when I started TX. After the first round I had increased burning in my feet (usually I just have numbness). I started on B6 and it has made a noticeable difference. My mo also recommended alpha lipoic acid, but it seemed to be contributing to the stomach issues, so I stopped. I may try again after this is all over. I will check out the acetyl-l- carnitine



I can't believe I'm sitting here on day 3 drinking my one little morning cup of coffee (had to cut back the caffeine :-( and it still tastes good! What's up with that? Small blessings!



Cheers!