April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

thanks Stacie and welcome all. i am glad i am on this board, i went to a couple other boards and they were soooo depressing. so i am sticking to this thread only. my son (12) asked me to wear a scarf or hat if/when i come to his school. he still isnt used to my head being shaved and is honest that he doesnt want to be teased about his mama being bald. sad that other kids even have to go there. but i will do whatever it takes to make him comfy. thanks for the boost on the muga. it sounded creepy but i kept searching and found out more info.

Had my first Chemo treatment April 4th.. 4 and 1/2 but I had to have Iron also..next time will only take 2 and half hours they said..  next will be Apr.18..  I will have these first 4 every 2 weeks then I have 3 months of one every  week.. So it will be august or Sept befor eI'm done just i n time for new Grandbaby dew Sept.  LOL

@Lisa:  my 8yo son says to tell your son, "it's ok because people make fun of my mom's head too."  He also says it gets easier once you get used to it.  His current nickname for me is bad bald mommy (the snappy comeback of choice to me teasing him or telling him to do something like eat his veg).  After about 2 weeks he no longer had a preference about what I wore on my head.  And the neighborhood toddlers don't even really notice my bald head.  The preschoolers just wonder at it, like every day they are surprised it hasn't grown back yet.

See if the MUGA tech will try to show on the screen what they are looking at.  It's a challenging imaging study to read (looks like a bunch of black/colored dots), so it's interesting to listen to the explanation.  I also find the techs treat you more like a person if you seem curious -not suspicious-of what they do.

awwwe your son sounds awesome @Velutha!!! it all works out. i went to pick him up today he had after school activities and he had me come in, so it will be okay, and i understand his initial reaction.

i had TCH on 4/3. today a letter came from my insurance about the carboplatin

review decision:not approve...

reason: the request could not be approved because we have not been able to establish medical neccessity based upon review of the medical documentation submitted, please contact your DR or our customer service dept.

i go in tomorrow for cbc and possible neupogen shot if/as need, was told neulasta wasnt approved on 4/3 during my first round.  today the unapproved letter came in a different envelope for the neulasta. i wonder whats up with that cause i saw them give me the carboplatin. i have paper work saying i got carbo.... i will ask them if it was or wasnt approved, and whats the next step. dont understand how the dr would know i was not cover for neulasta but still gave me the carbo if it wasnt approved. they dont give you anything if its not getting paid for. they approve/paid for mammo, biopsy, MRI, PET Scan, muga so far , then say there is no established medical documentation? confusing. hoping its just a clerical error, because i already do not want to be doing this chemo as it is, was just getting used to the whole idea, researched all the SE and came to grips with this to have it switched up now will push me over the edge 

i am sure it will all work out, ppl pushing papers, trying to keep there bosses off their backs, do a power play. i am sure my dr will handle everything and probably did. i go tomorrow so i will know by noon whats up. I may not open these letters anymore lol.  let the drs staff handle it. thanks for calming me down. .

 i am getting a little rash or irritated area downtown, maybe the urine with all the chemo is buring my skin. i have been drinking plenty of h20, and showering and am super clean..... i may just rinse off with water every time i urinate from now on to be sure. charming huh?

My LGFB class is a week from today. Really looking forward to it!

That's awesome on the gifts Stacie.  

Indigo....enjoy!  I don't get to go until next month because i was just too sick to make the class for this month.  I just want some help with false eyelashes...those things are a pain to put on.  I guess practice makes perfect so i mess with them at least once a week.

Stacie, i haven't experienced that type of pain.  They warned me I would have unbearable pain as a SE to the Neulasta shot and i did have terrible back and neck pain.  The cancer center i go to offers a lot to the patients including accupuncture, yoga, nutrition classes....etc.  I took advantage of the accupuncture and it helped a lot.  She also left 4 seeds in my ears, 2 for nausea and 2 for pain.  I just push on the seeds and it seems to help.    

Hi Tammy! Sorry you have to wait because of feeling rotten. Lol, the lady who took care of me at the place I bought my wigs offered me a lash lesson too. Maybe if I get two lessons I'll finally get the hang of it. I've watched I don't know how many online tutorials and still didn't get it so crossing my fingers for hands on doing the trick.



I need to practice putting on my wig. Going to show hubby and sons tonight.

Yay - PET scan results were good! "No measurable signs of cancer."



I understand what that means but after freaking out about my crooked ribcage that was the best thing J've heard in a while.

I'm glad you are on top of things! Last thing you need are any more allergic reactions.



Hugs!

I also asked my oncologist about SE's in general.  She said that she would give me what me prescriptions  to help with the nausea and to take Tylenol/Ibuprofen for pain.  If the SE's warrant more drugs, then I'll get them.  In another words, it is a wait and see approach since eveyone has different reactions to her chemo cocktail. She also asked me an interesting question about whether I had morning sickness while I was pregnant with my kids.  She said that may be an indicator of my degree of nauseousness with the chemo.  Who knows.... I never thought my body was that sensitive to things but now it is.  Next Monday is my day at the hospital for PET Scan, echocardiogram and blood lab work.  Oh joy.....

Melrosemelrose,

I think it is true.  I was very nauseous when I was pregnant with both of my kids for the first couple of months, all day long.

After my first chemo treatment, that is exactly how I felt.  I had my first treatment on April 2nd and just starting feeling better today.  Unfortunately, going back for next treatment on April 16th.  I hoping that some of the suggestions I have read in this forum will work and I won't have as many issues as I had the last time.

This forum has kept my spirits up throughout.  Remember "Fight Like a Girl"!!!