March 2012 chemo

Hi there - just saw your post. I started 6 rounds of TCH on 2/13, so am 1/2 way thru, also triple positive & also doing cold cap. How are you doing? It's very hard!!!

hi connief

Hope your counts are up for your next TX.  As much as we all go on about the whole hair thing, its a little more comfortable getting it buzzed off and taking control of it yourself.

Katy

Aww your poor little guy, broke my heart.  Yes, step by step will be easier all around.

januaryice....i just went today...this morning for cat scan will let u know the outcome.  nurse who did cat scan had a heck of a time with my veins...tried once ...then tried in forearm...i told her use my hand...so she finally did.  I had at scan with contrast and the iodine stuff they inject.

today my mouth and tongue are sore....feel so very tired...and when i was told i would get a neulasta shot, i have been fretting about it ever since.  when i go for chemo on 4/12 i also get the port...then next day she said the neulasta shot due to low white blood count...

i am in a real slump...i hate this cancer

Amymom

You had better stay on with us LOL!  Since you no longer have to do chemo, I'm going to be looking for hair growth encouragement from you because you'll be ahead of us now!!

Corky and anyone else that deleted a long post as I have.  I almost did it again myself tonight GRRR.  For the heck of it I clicked on the undo button above. IT WORKED, brough everything back!!  Worth a shot if it happens to you!

nsmolen - I like battle juice!  Sending good vibes to you for your meeting with the MO and your next battle juice!

Onvacation: NO... I didn't take it that way at all! Sorry if it sounded like that, I am really justifying it to myself, I was surprised I couldn't go through with it, and a little pissed I discovered I'm not as tough as you ladies...anyway I noe have a pretty bald strip up the back!!! Ha.

Nsmolen: I love your signature quote btw. Perfect. Go get 'em.

AmyMom:  Turks and Caicos sounds exciting!  Have you been there before?  If so, what's it like? 

Nsmolen:  I love the term battle juice!  If you don't mind, I would like to start using that term for myself.

Hello Everyone! Took me 1 full hour to read the missed pages since I posted last!

going through 6 pages I hope i get everyone!

I am TX#1 day 13: feeling wonderful! even better than before I was diagnosed BC! but going for TX#2 tomorrow  

Cmcclean, love the 6 truth in life!

Karri, love your hair! you are so upbeat and tough lady! I dont see why not write letter to aerosmith to get you and Michelle go in VIP section only! doesnt hurt to try! anything can happen! or MAYBE they come to your house and play for you!

Januaryice,  I think we have same TX's I am AC 4 x every 2 weeks, Taxol 4 x every 2 weeks. I get neuopogen injections 24 hours after chemo and everyday 4 days. (5 times). The first AC was march 23 , the day 3, 4, 5, 6 was the worse days for me, mostly in bed DOWN IN DUMPS, left collarbone/shoulder pains, so painful that i have never felt and i didnt have pain meds (got scripts from my surgeon for port surgery that i had on march 21st). so i dont know whether if it s from port, or from neupogen?? seeing MO tomorrow at 9am and my 2nd AC TX is scheduled for 10am at hospital setting right after MO.

Onvacation, lanagraves, LTR227 i think we also have same TX's, too. I have been asking everyone same questions in person about patterns at tx 1, 2, 3, 4! because i liked my pattern from my first tx, 2 days ok, 4 days worse, then after that i feel alive better than before BC. I was hoping for same for my next tx #2 starting tomorrow.

Cayh, i get neuopogen too, i drive to hospital, and get injection by nurse for 5 days in a row (a day after chemo). I get left collarbone and shoulder PAIN again not sure if its port or this? I will find out the next round because my port surgery is all good now, doesnt feel like it is there

 TC9876, we can do detox after chemo/treatments?? if so, I would LOVE to go for that! who should we ask for? ask MO at the end? or? You going to get herceptin too? my MO wants me to do herceptin after I am finish with both AC and taxol. is herceptin pill form, or go for infusion for whole year?? (time assuming dont you think?) i think pandora charm for each treatment is GREAT idea! because chemo is not for wimps!!! 

Nsmolen, battlejuice! love it! I pray that the breast issue is SE thing! hugs

Lostinmo, prunes, YUCK! you know what I did, i went to healthfood store (rarely go), got myself a bag of organic dried aprciots, ate one each day, (knock on wood) havent had constipated at all!

Masserez, beautiful! both ways!

Myleftboob, when i am home, i DECLUTTERED whole house! Like I said i have so much ENERGY! I re organized whole kitchen cabinets because I have habit throwing in the containers, covers, etc now its in right pile, and cleaned one drawer where all the junk in it and boxed it in order!! fixed my walkin closet and hanged in order lol. what the heck! lol and I made my son go get me sushi only california rolls, i know i am not supposed to eat raw fish, so california rolls is the closest i can have! because sushi is my favorite meal! 

Amy, saying prayers!

I see everyone talking about ativan? I am currently taking effexor for 7 years, and my MO told me to keep taking it. I dont know if its why I am feeling good after day 5 and throughout? But during my first 5 days, I cry and angry and tired.

Anyone already (with March girls or older ones) used herceptins alone after chemo tx's, in what way? pill or infusion? how often how long? SE? I have HER2 positive that why I am getting herceptin after Tx's I dont know why I am not getting it during chemo? I will ask MO tomorrow.

SE's during my 1st TX AC March 22 (adriamycin and cytoxan) also in it Aloxi and decadron during infusion: I took Prochlorperazine 10mg on day 1 when i come home. and at night. and 3 times a day morning afternoon and before bedtime because I read somewhere says to take it even if not feel nausea because NAUSEA is my worse enemy!!! only couple of times just for like 5 minutes i felt nausea because my son cooked up a storm in kitchen and the smells! but it went away. For eating, food was yucky for during my bad days so only ate cracker and LOTS LOTS LOTS WATER, I am big coffee drinker before chemo, after chemo barely half cup a day! no constipated, no vomit, no realtime nausea (knock on wood). only worse thing was pain in my collarbone and shoulder on left side for two days on my bad days, again not sure if from port or the neupogen injections. I am still having both medicaid and PCIP pending, that is why my MO had me go hospital setting for chemo/injections when i go MO office I pay self-pay to see him. I am going tomorrow to see MO at 9am to talk about my blood work taken last friday and to see how I am doing then go straight to hospital at 10am chemo infusion. I dread my bad days but.......knowing there are happy days after so it is DOABLE!!! But I am really hoping the patterns are the SAME??? I eat rather very well during my good days and gone out, to dinner, to mall, and to the pool (would have loved to go beach but afraid to get too much sun).

Just this morning, i am not sure if its the hair or its my imagination, i run through my fingers in my hair and got like 10 pieces on my hand, so not sure if its normal, or its the SE, i have been checking my pillow everyday. 

I hope everyone is having none or small SE's 

Hugs to all - Jeanne

Hey Everyone...Happy Wednesday!  I'm on day 6 of Tx3...halfway done.  SE's are a little lighter this tx...my first still seems to be the worst one.  I'm 8 weeks and 2 days away from my last 'battle juice'...let the countdown begin. 

You guys are planning some wonderful post-chemo vacations!  I have always wanted to go to Turks and Caicos...might have to put that in to action!  My hubby and I went to Barbados last year and it was amazing...the people were so nice and the food was great.

What are everyone's plans for Easter?  My mom is cooking...I plan on eating soooo much turkey that I get the biggest turkey hangover ever and sleep for 24 hours straight.  I don't sleep for the first week after chemo so I'm really looking forward to the tryptophan (sp??)...and of course some chocolate bunnies!! 

Greetings from the infusion room! I met with the MO this morning. She said that it's not unusual to have the swelling like I'm having. She said that it's quite possible that it's "tumor death". As the tumor is shrinking, the cells can release fluid, making it swell and making it painful. Since my tumor is pretty ginormous, I guess there's a lot of fluids being released. As painful as it is (and as lopsided as I am), I'm definitely encouraged by that! She did however tell me that she's going to start giving me the Neulasta. Ok sisters, I've read some scary stuff about the bone pain. I read a little about Claritin to help. Do I use regular or Claritin D? Getting my fluids and anti-nausea meds, and the battle juice will be coming soon. Getting ready to kick some serious tumor arse! F cancer!

Nsmolen: I had neulasta after my first tx, and felt nothing, no bone pain. Zip. And I took nothing preventatively, so you neverknow. I am aware that alot of people do experience the bone pain, we all seem to react differently. I am just waiting for a Home Care Nurse to come to the house to give me my post tx#2 neulasta shot so we'll see of it's the same this time.

That is very encouraging about the swelling: knock that tumour down!!! Sorry it's painful though.

claritin -NOT the D--the D is said to b harmful to your heart-

the day that we found out that lumpy was believed to be cancer(i knew it before) hubby said that when i was done with TX we would go back to hawaii or at least to san francisco bay area --i have never been to northern california.....well then he realized that all costs money so---- much as i love the idea he is not really fun to travel with--- and it would be hard to justify going to the TA TA thing in vegas with him sitting at home.... so---not really sure that anything really fun and  exciting is on my horizon!  closest i may get is to moving!!!!!!!!

sissy-i signed up for chemo angels a few weeks' back and it is wonderful getting mail! thx for bringing that to the board!

sunny and nice here today in ohio...hubby has a dr appt later so that is the big day's excitement! well; no--i got "the call" today about my job interview and have a second interview next tuesday--

hugs to all

Margo:: good about the second interview! Glad you're having a sunny good day.

Re: Chemo Angels, what a great thing that is. I have a similar thing going on; an amazing community of people at the lake where my Husband's family has had a cottage for comin on 90 yrs, has organized something of the same sort. Since my surgery in Feb, and ongoing, every few days I receive a card or a package or dome flowers or a gift card or some groceries or dinner deliveries. It's crazy good, and has me telling myself that when I next hear of a friend in need I have so Manu good ideas now of just little things that could help brighten the day.

Hugs all round.