Taxotere/Cytoxan starting February 2012.

Good morning,



To those in treatment today, praying for an easy and uneventful day for you. Hopes for easy SE for all.



My port is out. It was a very crazy morning. Fluids got my blood pressure up to something more normal. However, the doctor stuck himself with the needle when doing my stitches. So, I had to stay for bloodwork so that they could make sure he was safe from me . . . Tested my blood for HIV and hepatitis. I think the chaos caused them to forget to give me numbing of any kind. The stitched area throbbed all day yesterday. It's much better this morning, just tender.



We have a cabin in the mountains and we drove up last night. I've had terrible heartburn/ reflux and I got really sick on the way up! It was not the day I'd planned!!! Feeling okay this morning so just going to take it easy!



I'm most concerned now about my 2.0 WBC yesterday. It has never been so low. I am so excited to go back to my first graders on Monday, but they all told me yesterday that I shouldn't. I am going to MO tomorrow so will find out.



My prayers to all of you doing rads next. I hope that all will go smoothly for you.



My next step is bone density scan and then decision on hormone therapy. TE exchange on June 6. Will be interested in keeping up with you all on the next steps.



So proud of you who do big workouts. I am still walking 2 miles per day. Have been going to flat park, now moving to a great park close to us that is hiking around a lake/river with hills. Georgia is full of hills. Wore me out! Will have to build back to hills.



My physical therapist said new studies show recurrance rates can be cut by 50% for those who take moderate walk 3-6 hrs a week! Walk ladies!



Prayers to you all.



Kim

NikkiEliz

While I'm getting Neulasta, CCAC arranged a home nurse to come and give me the shot.  I'm not needlephobic at all but couldn't even fathom giving it to myself.  So she comes to the house and says "OK, you've only been scheduled for one visit and I'm going to teach you how to give yourself the shot!?"  I'm like WTF?  I can't do this!  She directed me on what to do and I was like "that's it?".  Luckily its a prefilled, premeasured shot and the needle can only go about an inch below the surface.  I had visions of me getting a vial and a syringe and having to find a vein and everything.  But that wasn't the case, its actually quite simple and totally painless.  Once more to go on April 21st after my last TX!

As I sit here feeling still a little crappy after last Friday's TX, I keep trying to remind myself that I only have to go through this one more time.  Then of course revisit with the RO re RADS.  One thing at a time right?

Nikkieliz How wonderful for you that they offer this in Canada wish it was also in the USA but fat chance of that.My Mo and one of the nurses said the needles are not big hope they are right.

I figure how hard can it be after going through all the rest of this.

Firstcall or Myleftboob just one probably stupid question is it pointy enough to just press in or do you have to jab it.I told hubby if I couldn't do it he would have to he said fine just have to pick him up off the floor after.No problem I can do that.Or I could call my mother in law she just loves this shit,had to have her take care of a wound our dog had few years back when he ripped his side open on one of the big stakes they love to put in telephone poles and never remove.It was nasty after he got home form surgery.She was right up for the job,had 6 kids and saw it all.

Hello, ladies.

 Oh, beautiful Silvia... my heart breaks with what you are going through. It's horribly unfair to have a local recurrence after your brave decision to have a bilateral mastectomy (and no radiation at that time was absolutely correct). All of us who choose implants run the risk of capsular contracture... although radiation won't help matters. Do you have a plastic surgeon you love and trust? Reconstruction options are plenty, and as young as we are, unfortunately more surgeries are in our futures. I just went through the consent for my silicone implants today, knowing this set will be only the first of 3 or 4 (given a long, cancer-free life!). The ONLY recon that lasts is one with autologous flaps. And although flaps can "die," the published rate of failure is around 5%, and at centers that specialize in DIEPS, less than 2%. I urge everyone not to shy away from research about this kind of reconstruction because of the "longer surgery" (recovery is shorter than for a TRAM!) or because they heard of subpar outcomes (which happen more frequently at places that don't do them routinely). If the surgery wasn't so technically difficult, it would be the gold standard for all of us.

Off the soapbox now, I am wishing you an easy time with radiation that leaves your implants alone! And it sucks. SUCKS. So thanks again for providing the forum to share that sentiment with people who actually get it.

 xoxo,

 Britt

Hope everyone who has gone for treatment this week has limited SE's and just think one more down Yahhhhh.

Myleftboob  Thanks you make it sound very easy and I think now that I can do it as we all know don't care how thin we think we are there is always plenty of chubs around the middle.I have never had any fear of needles and I figure can't be any worse that getting out a sliver;  

JoanQuilts  also thanks makes it seem easier the more people that say they have done now just hope my insurance has agreed to this they were checking into it for me but I guess I won't know till i go on Tuesday.As you i don't feel like running up there 4 days in a row Infusion and shots. 

So do you remember if you had the same SE'e with this as you may have with the Neulasta.Just trying to figure out if I need to take the Claritan if it will help like with the Neulasta.I used it for the Neulasta and I just had some discomfort nothing that Extra Strength Tylenol couldn't handle .Don't want to take the Claratin if it would have no effect but don't want to not take it and be miserable. 

Wishing everyone a great weekend and to those that celebrate Easter hope you can eat lots (and it taste yummy) and enjoy the day with family and friends.Think everyone deserves some fun. Can't wait for my chocolate.

Brittle

Thanks for the info on DIEP.  Its a big help in decision making from someone that's had so much exposure to the procedure.  At least I know what questions to ask of the PS I choose when I address the subject of DIEP vs Implants.  What you say makes alot of sense.  While implants sound easier at the onset, I never thought about have to revisit the procedure every few years. Good food for thought.

Silvia: The published rate of capsular contracture after radiation is around 40%. I see this as a 60% chance of having NO problems... and that's what I'm hoping for you! 

 MLB: Happy to provide you with oodles of information off line when you want or need it.

 Happy Easter-Passover-Bunny-Chocolate-Tulip-Lily Fun to all!

Britt

Myleftboob thanks for the info but wondering why and how you know that you need to put the shot in another spot?

Bonnie I remember some post back you were saying you had some issues with your fingernails this time round.Are you doing OK with this now? Was this something that you only noticed after the 3rd TC? Also hope your mom is still doing well.

Another feel good moment

 Yesterday I decided to go food shopping so slapped on the wig that I wasn't really feeling like I was rocking,threw on a bit of eyeliner and blush and went.So needless to say I wasn't feeling my best and a bit down.I was in the veggie dept and this gentleman starts making small talk with me  and I was being nice and going along with it and all of a sudden he introduces himself and tells me 

Your husband is a very lucky man  You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen

Well OK maybe it is a little creepy but I have to say feeling the way I was about myself it really brightened up my day and put a little spring in my step. 

I did for a split second think about pulling off my wig and saying what do you think of me know but then just decided to go with it  and told him I would be sure to tell my husband,and of coures I did tell him.

And he said

See honey you still got it.

What a great day 

Myleftboob interesting on the rotation I will ask the nurse when I see them.

Awesome about the comment on the wig these are the things that truly brighten our days right now 

Good Morning Ladies,

lmlola59: Thinking of you today and wishing you the best! I noticed my nail beds Round 2, but not as bad as this round. My fingernails are sore. I did cut my nails back and this helped some. A few of them have the brown marks on the nail bed. However, there are no signs of nails lifting/coming off. Absolutely LOVED your feel good moment and the part of pulling off the wig! Thanks for the chuckle!!

myleftboob: What a moment, hearing the woman say that to her friend! 

Hugs,

Bonnie 

Today, fill your cup of life with sunshine and laughter ~ Dodinsky

Hi everyone,

I have my last TC this week (on Thursday).  Went and met with RO last week and will start rads 4/23.  I got my tats and did the simulation on Friday.  I'm thrilled because this timing means I'll be done with everything by the time of our "family-moon" trip in June!  I'm not nervous about the rads... I've handled the chemo really well (maybe had one or two down-days each cycle, minimal SEs), so hopefully the rads will be a walk in the park.

Have a beautiful day!

Hey Brittle

Yay to your last TX on Friday.  My last is the following Friday and I can't wait!!!  Will you be moving on to RADS?  I have another meeting with the RO on the 26th.  Re the housework thing.  I do the same thing,  Want everything done so when I have a couple of crash days the housework isn't overwhelming me.  Yeah, I want hair too.

Imlola59    My MO said to call the RO office and tell them when my last chemo was.  They usually like to wait about 3-4 weeks from your last chemo to make sure your blood counts are normal before they start.  Tomorrow I am going for my simulation but am also having a slew of blood tests so I guess they will need those results to decide on a start date.

Thanks Gayle56 and RuthieG this is what I thought.I have also had limited SE's counts were high on the Neulasta so switching to the 3 day shot and she doesn't even feel she needs ot see me at half way because she is very confident i will not have a problem with counts. I will call the radiologist this week to get the ball rolling.Maybe if I follow the same pattern on 3 and 4 I can get them to work with me to do it in 2 weeks.We will see.

Hi All,

This is a very non busy site these days so hope everyone is doing well.

Just checking in to let you know that I got the shots to do myself and they are a breeze.Thank goodness nurse worked it through my insurance I guess that was a B**ch,then she called the drugstore and they refused because they want it to be mail order but nurse didn't;t want to do this at this time because it would take to long  so they gave us a one time lapse on this that also cost me no co payment thank goodness.

Also went down to my own hairdresser and she fixed up both of my wigs to my liking.Told her I needed a miracle because I have a wake tonight and funeral tomorrow so just in time.I will be with many people that have no idea so it will be the big test for me.What a sweet heart she didn't charge me anything since the Boutique where I got it already charged me $55 for nothing.

Another good day 

Hope today is as good for myself and all of you