Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

A must read, ever here of chemo brain, been suffering from it for a while now, it really exists.



http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/PhysicalSideEffects/ChemotherapyEffects/chemo-brain

2 more taxol couple of weekd off before rads and continued herceptin-  off to sunny Florida 4/21 to celebrate!!

Hey girls, I'm back!  This has been a crazy ride for sure.  Apologies for dropping off the face of the earth, but something had to go for a bit.  Backread to see what I've missed and looks like we have all crawled our way closer to a milestone.

 Special Note to Anyone thinking of SNOWBOARDING when your hands and feet are numb as posts.  DON'T!!!  My ribs will attest to the fact that when you can't feel your toes and know which edge you might be riding on, you tend to fall, just a bit!!  We went in March on that beautiful day when it was in the 70's. The snow was soft.  The sun was awesome.  The slopes were mostly empty.  And I face planted the worst I have ever done in all my years.  Good thing I didn't have an implant.  It would have blown a crater in the snow when it went.  So, now I'm just waiting for my trashed ribs to heal.  It's only been two weeks, so doing OK there.  That's why you have more than one rib, right???  Spares!

Update here.  Finished my four sets of Tax just last week!! Whoo-Hoo.  The whole posse ended up coming for the sendoff dose.  Hubby, son and his best girl. Though the rules say one vistor per, no one batted an eye. Then we celebrated at Five Guys and went to a movie.

Side effects for the whole she-bang boiled down to 24 hrs. of nasty bone, leg random, roving pain after #1 Tax. and then the slowly increasing numbness of hands and feet. Typing feels really strange.

We were able to go away end of Feb. for four days and had a fabulous break from the crazy. Treatment #2 was Tues. then snowboarded half day Wed. at Cannon Mt. my fav and Bretton Woods Thurs. then Fri off with a massage.  Saturday and Sunday I was dead tired and couldn't move out of my own way.  

Didn't miss any more days of work at school except for treatment days.  After third Tax. treatment, Dr. called to say, "UMM we noticed your blood sugar has been rising steadily, so go get checked out by family DR,"  So much for eat what tastes good (yogurt smoothies) and stay hydrated (juices, teas, choc. milk), keep up your strength (pizza).  By the way, I lost about 20 pounds, but my "fat" clothes were still tight for the first 15.

Congratulations!! I am now a diabetic.  At least that's what they tell me.  My sis the all-knowing RN says the pancreas might wake up and come back, maybe with my hair.  Maybe by the time the numbness in my hands and feet fades away. Or maybe not and I'm like this forever.

So test 2 hours after every meal and do a shot before bedtime is now part of my routine along with all the other stuff.

Next Tues and Thurs. are the meetings to set up my surgery which will be coming sometime soon.  Trying to plan for the rest of the school year for a sub is keeping the brain busy.  Have the recliner already set up in the Living Room. Looking forward to camping season and landscaping the site where we're putting our new camper.  Don't think whitewater kayaking is in the cards for me this summer, oh well!  

Can't complain really, all things considered.

Hello Ladies, Wow I wish I had found this group when I started my chemo in Dec. You all sound so close. I have 3 more treatments of taxotere with my next treatment on Tues 4/10. My last treatment is May 22 and I am counting the days! It is comforting to know there are others that have had the same SE even though I would not wish this on anyone. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one and no one understands then I leave my pity party and know there are alot of people worse than I am so I am thankful that it is what it is.  I wish everyone the best. Thanks for having somewhere for me to vent. 

Rachel....LOL...my exchange is set tentatively for May 31st, too!!! I will be finding out this week!!!!

Sno glad you updated!



Teresa welcome to our group. I hope the rest of your txs go easy.



I've been meeting with surgeons getting ready for BMX. It's all so confusing. I go for my first single herceptin tx on Tuesday. Ugh I really don't want to walk into that infusion center again!



Hope everyone is well and having a nice holiday weekend!

Victorious - may I suggest olive oil? It was suggested to me by a friend who's been through chemo twice. My mouth had issues, including possibly one case of thrush, but overall I kept my taste for a good part of treatment and had very few mouth sores. I just took a tablespoon twice a day, swished it in my mouth, and swallowed. No one has any explanation (my friend got the recommendation from her doctor, who was testing a theory). If nothing else, it helps keep things lubricated. Good luck!

Victorious do you.chew on ice during taxotere? I did and didn't have any mouth problem. The nurses told me that the neulasta helps with mouth problems also.

Thanks for all the tips for preventing/managing mouth issues. They are great. I will try them all.  I am determined not to have mouth issues next time.

Markat: I have not tried chewing on the ice during infusion but I will be sure to have a cup of ice handy on Monday. 

Whata:  I would have never thought of the club soda gargle and greek yogurt pops.  I assume they are like popsicles.  I'll check the freezer aisle at the grocery store. 

Rachel, I tried the olive oil last time but it was on day 4 or 5 so it may have been too late.  And I only did it once or twice.  I'll try the twice a day starting day 1 to see if that makes a difference.

Just had my 7/12 taxol today, surgery scheduled for 5/25 am having partial mastectomy on right breast, then on to radiation I go

Good luck Mardibra...you're in my thoughts today.

Mardi, good thoughts and prayers for you today,

Laura

Wishing you healing thoughts, Mardi!

Sno - how often do you go camping?  My husband and I (and our dogs) are permanent campers, too.  We camp along the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg.  We love our summers along the river. . . good friends, good fun!  Something awesome to look forward to.    Your comment on the crater in the snow was awesome.  Thanks for the laugh.

Enjoy your weekends, ladies!

Bailey  We try to get to camp every weekend May thru October.  If the hubby's schedule permits we do one long stint of one to two weeks mid-summer.  We are on the edge of the Berkshires in western Mass. near the Deerfield River.  So hiking with the dogs, and kayaking are the two stress busters along with just chilling at our site doing a little gardening or snoozing.  People think we're nuts leaving NH to camp in Mass but we have no weekend crazy traffic (going opposite of everyone else) and there is guaranteed water for paddling because of the dam release on a schedule.  Going down today to bring home the old camper for a brother-in-law.  Then wait for the new one to be delivered next week WHOO-HOO!  I grew up in Southeast PA, Chester County near MD border.  Love the open, rolling hills and our Amish neighbors that keep them that way.

OWW!! So much for the "relatively painless" after effects of the port being removed.  Shirt touching the area is no fun.  Can't exactly go without one, too much to do today. Guess it's just a preview of coming fun.  Talked to my sister last night and she is all set to come up from PA for post-op.  She is the BOMB!!, retired RN's come in handy.  She will also bring mom who is 92, actually 93 by the time they arrive.  Mom is a hoot and a half, says she's "doing as well as can be expected"  which means she is still kicking ass most days.  Just stopped driving and living alone last October.  It will be tough to even match her.  We're just hoping to get some retirement years to enjoy right now.

Enjoy the sunshine!! 

Well, Ladies.....the time has come.......

For me to start shaving my arm pits again!!!!!!  

I'm so sorry...I just had to share....oh the little things in life...although...I feel like I haven't shaved in FOREVER!!!   I have to admit...it was a nice break!!!

And, Rachel...I'm on for the 31st!!!!  12:30 pm, to be exact!!!!