March 2012 chemo

Can I just say I love you guys? You are totally cracking me up! : D

Tx2 Day 14. Hi all. I haven't been online for a couple days; how is everybody doing? I've had minimal SE's lately, and even went out to a gig the other night.

My hair is really thin now, so you can really see my scalp. I look like a weird sort of hedgehog, totally ugly. XD I was actually born with more hair than this, lol. I am still loving my scarves and dressing my turbans up with brooches. I actually expected to be totally bald by now, and I'm kind of looking forward to getting past this middle stage.

Most annoying SE right now is a mouth ulcer that I'd like to get rid of. Otherwise, feeling great. I even went out to a gig the other night.

There are so so so so so many new posts! It's amazing how busy this thread is.
Here are just a few responses...

Amy- My thoughts are with you. What have you decided to do???

Lisa- Congrats on cutting your hair, and I'm glad your treatment went well.

Corky- My husband says I'm being plugged into the Matrix when I get treatments. XD
Also, I totally fell for your 'Six Truths in Life'!!!!! Thanks for the laugh.

Kym- Love your short 'do!

Caitlin- Sorry to hear that there may be more cancer. How did the biopsy go?

Sissydi- I'm sorry to hear you've been spending time alone. I find it really important to be able to talk to someone. Are you feeling up to getting out somewhere fun? Do keep posting here.

Shera- I LOL'd about the vaginal cream prescription. What a waste of time though.

Karon- Sorry to hear you're under house arrest. I hope your WBC / neutrophils pick up soon.

tc9876- Day 8 is a little late to be peeing the chemo still. Could be a bladder infection?

re Meals- Nice to hear about the different meal services. My freezer has been over-full for the last couple months, with meals from friends and family. Nice to have easy / free meals, particularly during Days 1 to 7.

Masserz- Thanks for the pics. You're so pretty. The wig is great, but you totally rock the bald look!

Karri- I watched We Bought a Zoo a couple months ago. Actually enjoyed it quite a lot. I cried during the preview for Dolphin Tale though, because his tail was gone and it was around the time of my mastectomy.

-WAVES- to everyone I didn't respond to.

Have a good day today, everybody.  I hope that your SE's are small and your smiles are big.

Kia kaha,
Angela

Galena: I love your sign off...did you once say it means be strong? Love it. It sound sso much better than "be strong"

Starting to count down to #2 here on Tuesday...weird to be feeling so fine, and preparing for being incapacitated again, setting up meals, childcare, help...

Oh, and hair is getting really messy now, clumps come out every time I touch it...nasty.

MIchelle, a little nervous, a little sad, a little in disbelief. still can't tell to look at me though...

I had my first treatment on March 6 and have been reading the posts every day but this is my first post. I did really well after the first TX. Went to work the next day. Did not have nausea only a little constipated. I have been reading the posts daily. My hair is really starting to fall now. I guess I will go get it all cut off on Monday. I am really have a hard time with the hair thing.

I have a nice wig I wear when I leave home, but around the house, in the yard and when I walk around the neighborhood I've been wearing a cap or a turban....but everything gets uncomfortable after a while.  I saw a website yesterday for a scarf, but in my opinion it was very expensive.  I took the idea and today I used one of my old nice square cotton scarves (from when they were popular to wear around our shoulders in the mid-80's.)  I had tried pulling it back and tying it in a knot, but it just didn't work.  Today I folded it into a triangle and put it on and when I pulled it back I took a pony tail band and pulled that up to where it was comfortable at the base of my neck, twisted it around, and I promise you this is the most comfortable I've been since I shaved my head.  I've already had it on for twelve hours. 

I sincerely bless and send my support to those of you who are continuing to work...and have little children responsibilities. 

Is hair loss time the same for each drug or does it change significantly person to person?

Your RANTS! They make me SMILE. I have tried to keep my mouth closed and have mental rants often, but I am also thinking my social filter may have been affected by the chemo....I am becoming much more honest and sharing it. Undecided so far if this is a good thing. 

The work rant (kltb04) is hilarious. Everytime someone asks me, "How are you doing?" I find I have so many different things I can say. But when some asks with the look of absolute pity and this-must-be-so-terrible-for-you-and-isn't-for-me, I perk up and say, "I'm doing really well, actually. I feel healthy other than the chemo that is making me feel occasionally sick." 

I love your honesty (all) that comes across in your frustrations!

KatyCB:  Yes, I have also some of the gently used scarves which have been shared with me.  I am 72, and this is a young mother who is probably in her 40's.  DMX, chemo, rad, etc., all about a year ago and she's doing her reconstruction now.  She has her hair back now, and is  so precious.  Seeing all of you young women with small children going through this, makes me very humbled....and I pray for all of you. 

My DD had melanoma surgery twelve years ago, and my DH had colon cancer in 1976, two maternal aunts w/BC in their early 70's, so we're no strangers to the Big C, but it sure has impacted my life like nothing else ever has.  With TN's I'm concerned about recurrence, but I don't dwell on it.  If it happens, we will just deal with it.

Starting day 4 of tx1 and feel like crap!!! Please tell me that this the worst day of the cycle. Trying to eat is the hardest and nothing even looks good to me. A couple of nibbles and I'm done. I know how important it is to keep your strength up but it's a battle with the stomach.

The march is looking really long!!! 7 more to go and than rads.

I'm so happy I found this board because it does really help to connect with others going through the same experience. Thank you to all for all the posts and support.

Hope all have a great Sunday!

January - day 4 was the worst for me at least so far!  I am only on my first treatment, my second one is the 12th.

Yep. I had my pain issues then too. Night 3 going into day 4. I started feeling halfway normal again on day 7/one week out.

Thanks so much for the replies!!! Sometimes you start to think it's only you. How silly is that? You wish the day would go by and it just seems to crawl. My heart goes out to those that have children to take care of. I don't know how they do it. I'm lucky I have only myself to take care of and only have to go in to work if I want to. Trying to stay positive!!!!!

Day 4 was the worst for me too. I had chemo on Monday and neulasta on Wednesday and Thursday I felt like I had the worst flu ever. Then Friday I felt much better. My nurse told me to take Claratin D the day before the shot next time. Anyone try that? How did that work

January- hang in there! My worst days have been 3 and 4. During my first round I was terrified that it would last the whole time. I saw steady improvement until day day 7 when I felt pretty normal again. Hope you get to feeling better soon!



Jeanne