March 2012 chemo

Hey gals - Can I join in here? I had my first treatment 2/17 but am on an every 3 week regimen of TAC, so am halfway through the treatments. Last one is June 4th. Then it will be surgery for me 3-6 weeks later. I'm choosing to have a bi-lateral even though the diagnosis was in the rt. side. Any thoughts about that? I can't imagine having to go through this on the left side in a matter of month or years. I already have bone mets so I"ll be dealing with this for life, I suppose anyway. I appreciate the comments from you all who've already been through this. Gives me hope to hear you're years out from the experience.

Hi LynnM

I for one am a relative newby here with only being DX 12/11. I don't blame you for doing the BMX though.  I questioned the merit of this with my surgeon prior to surgery. I hope he was right.

Welcome aboard our train however!!!

Re Sushi: Yes California rolls have cooked stuff in them.  Its true Sushi and Sashimi that are raw.

Perogies are awesome chemo food!!!  Must get some in for the next round for sure. Had some last time and they were gerat.

kltb04 -woohoo to making it till 5!  5 gaga songs is pretty good for cleaning!   Ya'll were talking about sushi, so I had a tofu spring roll with peanut sauce from Whole Foods.  It was ok, kind of like sushi no?  I then had some ginger snap cookies made in Texas shapes, also from Whole foods - I hear ginger is good for nausau!  LOL Note to self, don't go to whole foods hungry!  I'm not even feeling nauseus (sp?) I just wanted a cookie.  I could almost taste the ginger!

Welcome Lynn! I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but we're here to support you! I did have a BMX even though my cancer was only in the left. There were suspicious lesions in my right breast, but they couldn't biopsy them before my surgery so I didn't know whether they were cancer or not. I had previously had breast implants and remembered how awful the recovery was, so I only wanted to have to go through it once. I'm also a worrier and knew that if I didn't go bilateral, I wouldn't be able to move on after treatment. I still think I'll be stressed with every check up and scan, but at least I eliminated a big part of the risk. Talk to people, read about it, give it thought, and then go with what feels right to you. It's not an easy thing to do. Let us know if you have questions or concerns we can help you with!

Lynne, I totally agree with Masserz about both breasts.  My invasive cancer was in my left, and lumpectomy revealed no clear margins.  Turns out left breast was full of sneaky DCIS also. (I say sneaky, because often it will calcify and show up on mammo, but mine didn't).  Needless to say I was fearful my right breast would have DCIS too, so off it went also!  No regrets.  Like Masserz, I also had implants prior to bc due to losing 1/2 my right breast after massive mastitis 7 years ago.  I also did not want to be constantly worried about my "good" breast (which, btw, was cancer free!).  

Karri, I did cut that wig into a halo.  Turned out great, considering I'm not the best seamstress!  That wig was a little bit big and kinda baggy in the back (the wig lady said some companies allow room for hair up under the back - who wears wigs if you have HAIR?!)  Anyway, funny thing is, the center part that was left over will sit on my head under a ball cap and looks great! (you know ball caps, with their opening in back, don't work with halos)  I stitched the halo to a roomier hat, like the one Shera used with her own hair, and love that look, too.  So I got 2 out of it, which is great because even with 35% off, it still was over $100, and I was not going to wear it like it was.  Wish I could post pics, but I don't do facebook, so no way to get a URL attached.  (my 17 yr old won't want them on his page!) 

Lostinmo, it does get easier to go out in wigs/scarves.  I've been without hair now for 3 weeks, and I'm still a little self-conscious but not nearly like at first!

Amy 

Good Morning Everyone! Once again sleep has seemed to elude me. I gave up and got up before the sun.  But at least out here in the country it's a beautiful sunrise coming in the window.

Thank you for the encouragement on the no hair.  I finally let my son see me without a scarf or anything for the first time yesterday.  After he told me "I never see you in hats either Mom so just take it off"  So I did, but not for long. It was cold!

onvacation-I think I'll stick to everything tasting like cardboard!  I have a growing list of foods I'm going to eat and enjoy (I hope) when my taste comes back. 

I'm debating going to visit one of my best friends this weekend. Her son and mine are best buds too so it would be good to get them together. They live about 2 hrs away. Any imput on this. We will stay at her house so I'm not worried about low counts or anything like that.  Plus maybe she'll cook something I can taste? And maybe give DH a chance to get away from this for the weekend. Girl time and shopping.

My lump is uncomfortable today.  This should be a good thing, it's not liking the chemo.

Have a great day!  I'm done rattling for now! 

Just thought I'd mention that this is also the BF who offered to buy me a waterboob bra after my mx, but that if she got too drunk might have to throw darts at it. I had to laugh.  

Michelle - I am giving DH a break too but he is going to play D&D with his friends on Saturday (yes, it gets all Big Bang Theory nerd level up in here).  Have fun at lunch - I have been doing a lightweight/silky scarf tied at the neck with a cap on top.  

Lost - GO!  It will be good for you.  ROFL on the bra - reminds me of the Will & Grace episode where Grace wears a waterbra and springs a leak.

Amy - yay on the homemade halo.  I went ahead and ordered the one from tlcdirect and if it doesn't work, I can always send it back because they take returns. My caps so far are just more the newsboy or such style that don't have the hole in the back so I hope they work with the halo.

Kim - soap - ugh gross.  Here's hoping your taste improves and soon.

Played some low white blood count roulette this morning.  Had to go into two stores to find youngest DD some new pj's - they are having pj day at school Friday and she had nothing suitable to wear in public.  (Dollar General again Kim, lol!)  Then I had to run into the elementary school to take some candy bars oldest DD is selling that a teacher bought. 

All of your posts about seeing the sunrise inspired me to have breakfast al fresco after I got home from running the kids to school.  The sun was already well up by then but it was nice to be outside for awhile - I wish this weather would last.  Lows in the 50s/highs in the 70s.  Before too long, it will be humid and horrible.  I think I will even go for a walk in a bit.

Ahhh, the common mistake - AR is Arkansas...LOL!  I had a package shipped from the UK at Christmas and it was sent to Arizona first.  I was amazed it got here in time...

Good morning ladies! Getting a late start again today, but made it to work. Wound up with Chinese takeout for dinner last night - and it actually tasted GOOD. Also made some tuna pasta salad just because I had a craving - it was good too. BEAUTIFUL weather here today too, kltb. I wish it was like this all the time. Would love to be outside somewhere instead of in my office, but since I'm out so much with chemo and the effects thereof, no time for playing hooky.

Lost - Definitely go! Hope you have a wonderful time!

Amy - The homemade halo sounds great. I am soo not creative. Guess I'll just wind up ordering one.

Kim - yuck on the soap! Everything tastes like chemicals to me, especially anything I try to drink. Ugh..trying to think of some new things to try this time since I have chemo tomorrow. Someone on another thread suggested a slushie with ginger ale. Think I might try that.

Michelle - Hope you have a great lunch. It always makes me feel better to get out for awhile with friends.

Lynn - So sorry you have to be here, but the ladies on here are a fabulous group. I am fairly new too. Tomorrow is my third treatment. But I am so glad I found this forum.

Nsmolen - I was there this weekend. It just really helped to talk about it and vent. You can read my posts from Sunday they weren't pretty. And I realized its okay to cry and let go. We don't always have to be positive and happy. This disease is an emotional rollercoaster. Just knowing I have this support system here really helps. The ladies here have really pulled me through some dark days. You're not alone my friend and that's what helps me. Sending you big hugs.

Ok, I'm on Day 8 from A/C Tx3 and am experiencing lower back discomfort and occasionally something that feels like menstrual cramps. What gives?? I've been taking Claritin regularly and haven't had a period for 4 years! Anyone else feeling like this?

kltb - Still laughing about the skunk!

nsmolen - I wish I had advice. I don't. I do it too, although it's much better than it was before I got my scan results. Today, though, I am obsessing about armpit pain and a burning pain in my shoulder blade behind where my cancer was. Of course I know that I had major surger in that area two months ago and that is certainly good enough reason to have pain there. But I probably won't feel better about it until I talk to the MO about it tomorrow.

I am loving the weather; you're right Kim, it's the humidity level that is so great.

I had to update you all on the skunk - I posted about it on FB and a neighbor a few houses down said she saw it chasing a cat!!!!  a few days ago...seriously, it may be rabid.  And if it is, and drooled on the road, I could have tracked rabies into my house.  And that, my friends, is the way my crazy head thinks.  You see why I have issues.

Ok, I am going to pick up my kids.  I should be glad I feel good and am not sick and can but omg I just want to nap.  Not going to happen.  It takes an hour and 20 minutes by the time I get there, wait half an hour on one (you got to be early enough in line to beat the rush) then drive to get the other and wait in the line there and get home.  And the schools are 5 and 10 minutes from my house.  Again, I am thankful that I am feeling well enough to do it so I am glad I can go.  I will say that five times fast and then I might believe it

Edited to add: oh dear I am embarrassed. I drove really slowly by the skunk siting spot. It appears that this particular skunk is not a threat to me it anyone else. Dude is dead as a doornail. Oops.
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ding dong the skunk is dead!