Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

Mardibra - I know what you mean, I am also 45 and feel like I'm 80 most days.  It sucks the big one and I'd rather chew glass too....great analogy!

Gator - I hope you feel better soon too.  This disease just keeps on giving, huh?  Infected toenails....just one more bonus.

Treatment 4 seems to be kicking everyone's butt...it sure is mine. Usually, by Monday, I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel, but I can't even make it to the bathroom without feeling 80. The nausea is so much worse this time it seems. I am so thankful that our Y has a school's out club so I could send my 6 year old there to play all day and not worry about him. There is no way I could have taken care of both of us today.



What totally sucks is that you feel like crap, but know if you eat something you will feel better, but can't even fix anything for yourself because you are so weak. I don't even know what to keep on hand to just grab and eat. I keep saying, just 2 more, just 2 more.



The bone pain has been much better this time. I will be thankful for that!! We purchased a sleep number bed the week before treatment and it came in early. I think that made a huge difference. I made it a little softer and it has been like being surrounded by pillows and so much pressure has been taken off my hips.



Hopefully everyone is feeling better very soon!!

That is what I keep telling myself. 2 more and I will be done. 

More torture on Thursday....... then I will have 1 left. hallelujah!! 

For all of you suffering, I am so sorry. Today my bone & nerve pain set in and will most likley be around a couple of more days. Just waiting now to see if I get the low grade fevers I usually run at this time.

Just keep thinking how close you are all coming to the end.

So yesterday I went to work, came home and fixed dinner for the family, cleaned up the kitchen and intended to sit down to watch the news.  As soon as my ass hit the chair I was out for an hour!  I am not used to having so much fatigue and so little stamina for everyday things.  I feel like I could go to bed at 7:30 every night....which I haven't done since the 3rd grade!  I keep telling myself....one more month, one more month....

Laura - Your MO said diet and supplements won't help with anemia? Maybe you have a special form, but the standard approach is an iron-rich diet (red meat, dark green leafy veggies like spinach, broccoli rabe and kale) and iron supplements. There may be a reason he/she doesn't want you on iron supplements, but I would ask if there is a specific reason why you should not take them. And in the meantime, do try to get the other things in your diet. Yes, chemo will probably reduce your red blood count, but that doesn't mean there aren't things you can do to make it less of a problem. And don't push yourself - we each know ourselves best. I probably should be listening to my body more than my mind, because sometimes I overdo it. This is a temporary period in our lives. Let yourself heal through this, and you'll come out stronger when it's over. Then you can push life to the very limit you want to enjoy when you can.

Speaking of listening, I am staying home today. The fatigue is less, but the thought of not leaving the apartment is just... good. Plus I may have thrush, so I'm waiting to hear from the MO.

Kelloggs - I hope you're rested. Take it easy. 

Thanks rachel.....I'm trying to rest as much as I can but I have to work right now.  My DH is a cement mason and is laid off right now so my income is the only one besides the piddly amount left from unemployment after child support is paid!  Glad you are staying home today....envious!

Kelloggs - I'm sorry you have so much pressure to keep going. Willing some strength your way. You're pretty strong to have kept it up this much. I actually did work some today, though not as much as I thought I would. If I didn't have that option I'd probably have dragged myself in today.

Whata - Blisters too? Haven't heard of that one, but if your skin is dry and thin, maybe it just got damaged real easy. I hope you find something that helps. I hope this really is a good week for you. And cheers for the DH - you know they love you when they can see past all the stuff that we know is 'missing' and still find the good stuff!

My day in a nutshell:

Thrush - bad. MO/nurse that doesn't return early morning or mid-afternoon call for rx - baaad and annoying.  Pharmacy clinic that might be able to write prescription - good. Clinic nurse who finds I have a low temp and doesn't want to just send me off with rx if there's something more serious - well, good, but temp - baad (threat of ER - baaaaaaaaaad!!!!!). PCP who doesn't get back to me when clinic nurse calls to see if they can slip me in rather than hitting the ER - not cool, but I'll give him a pass since it was a longshot. Me chewing out receptionist at MO's office when I called for a third time - okay, bad, I'll admit it. (Triage nurse, after asking my name and DOB, asking 'Now, are you a chemo patient?' - ????????!) MO's nurse finally apologizing when she gets on phone, telling me there wasn't enough detail in my messages - Doh! ("I think I have thrush." Did I miss something?). Temperature back down - gooooood! Going back to pharmacy to pick up prescription 10 hours after my first call to MO - FINALLY!

If I didn't have a sense of humor, I'd be sunk. 

Hello ladies.  I am new to posting on this thread but I read it often.  After finishing 4 AC, I am getting my butt kicked by Taxotere.  I thought T was suppossed to be "better" than AC.  I'm not so sure so far.  I have never been so tired and useless in my life.  I've been bed or couch ridden for the last 5 days with body aches and low fever.  I do get Nuelasta, but I've had it four times before with no problem so I really think its the Taxotere raising the havoc. 

And Rachel, I got thrush too on Sunday after my 5th tx.  Talk about adding insult to injury.  Got a prescription for Nystatin mouth rinse.  It has helped.  All I know, is that the Taxotere made the back of my tongue very dry so I think that may have caused the thrush.  I don't know how I will get through 3 more of these.  I am miserable.

Whata, not sure about the blisters. I find I have to wear really unconstricting shoes though.



It is lovely to hear so many of you have such supportive loving spouses or significant others. As it should be, but so good to hear.



Dougieswife that had to be frightening. Hoping the fluids help.



Goodnight again ladies.

Lori - I hope the fluids helped. Sorry you had to wind up at the ER to get treated. Have you tried using a saline spray to moisten your nose? It might help keep some nosebleeds away. That long one must have been scary.

Victorious - Glad you found us. I'm sorry the Taxotere is hitting you so hard. Keep hydrating (I also use a vaporizer for the nighttime since I'm a mouth breather). It doesn't help that all of this is cumulative, regardless of what they're pumping into us. Hang in there, and we'll help each other along the way.

Kelloggs - Amen!

Laura - Thank you as always for your kind and gentle support. How are you feeling?

If nothing else, at least the fatigue seems to have disappeared this time. Either that or I'm just still pumped up from yesterday's stress. Swishing regularly, so hopefully the thrush is on its way to being history, but I guess it will still take a few days. I'm also sending thoughts that everyone has an easy day with no/minimal SEs.

Good morning ladies.  I feel a bit better after my rant last night. Also hoping for a minimal SE day.  I'm going to attempt to actually leave the house today and take my daughter out on a play date.

Laura - thank you so much for the supportive words and prayers.

Rachel - It took about two days of swishing for the thrush to go away.  Although I am continuing to use it for good measure.  I am supposed to swallow it.  I do it when I can, but sometimes I will spit it out if I can't bring myself to swallow it.

Any advice on how to prevent the thrush from happening again?  It is no fun on top of everything we're dealing with.

Wishing everyone minimal SEs today.

Dougieswife -- how are you feeling?  I hope the fluids have you feeling better.

Victorious -- you CAN do it.  Just take one day at a time and don't look too much into the future (like to your future treatments).  Glad you're feeling a little better today.

Rachel -- the Norovirus is going around in this area, too.  I keep hoping to avoid it.  No one needs THAT on top of everything thing else.  Be as careful as possible! 

Lori - Have you looked into Cleaning for a Reason? I haven't had any success (their local service is always 'full') but you might try. They offer several free house cleanings for cancer patients. I also think if you can line up a few people to check in on you at chemo to give your husband a break, that's great. We do have to rely on people so much now, it makes it extra special I think when we find a way to give the a break. It's just hard to arrange sometimes!

One other service I just found out about for those in the PA (and AZ) area: The Hope Supply Company. It's a warehouse of home goods (including mattresses!) and once you get paperwork filled out by your MO that you're in active treatment, you can go in and get lots of things for free. The website is www.breastcancersociety.org. I'm definitely going to check it out. The PA one is just outside of Philly - not sure how much of a trek that is from where any of you are.

Hello all, I haven't been to the site in awhile ... just finished tx #4 (out of 6 CMF) last week.  

seacretgardn, I have a little anemia, too (and like you, I'm amazed by what everybody else seems to be able to accomplish during chemo!).  Do you know what your hemoglobin number is?  Mine is just below the low end of normal and my MO was not too concerned.  Even when it was as low as 9.6, he didn't say anything about supplements or diet.

Fatigue is my biggest issue, I guess.  I'm sick of giving myself a shot every other day too (Neupogen).  But other than that, I consider myself really lucky as far as chemo goes.