April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

I do my very best at staying positive - regardless, but damn, is it not possible for this household to all be healthy at the same time?  I am sick of sick.  For a little over 3 years it's been my daughter (whose been through too much at her age), her breast cancer at age 26 and treatments of TCH, radiation and Herceptin all of 2009, then she had stomach issues and gall bladder out in late 2010 and then panic attacks and PTSD (from all the health issues and other), then other issues and a complete hysterectomy in January this year. Then I found my lump in February (me - never sick, not even a seasonal cold for at least the last 8 years) and here we go again.  Now daughter's cracked a tooth/infection/and miserable on antibiotics and I'm starting to get worried about TX#2 Friday whether she's going to be feeling okay by then.  What if I'm not as lucky as last time and if not whose gonna drag their rear outside to take care of all these critters, check water resources/feed, etc., in this way too early relentless heat and humidity?  BLAH, BLAH, BLAH - gripe, gripe, gripe!  Thanks, feel better, vent over!

Yay to Sandik and Wildflower for the last A/C!  I'll be on my last one on June 21. 

I am not pulling out my eyebrows; just seems that while they've thinned anyway the last few years, now the last couple of times I've showered there's hardly anything much the further they get away from my nose.  The ends are practically invisible.  I don't think my lashes are falling out yet, though.  Oh, well.  I had a discount card from my salon as a birthday gift and treated myself to a brow kit that I ordinarily would not have purchased.  

I find it very interesting how many MOs just seem to give Neulasta/Neupogen as a preventive, almost, and how many (like mine) only do it if counts actually warrant it.  So far after three treatments on A/C, I haven't had to have any injections.  I am taking a Chinese herbal supplement called Marrow Plus that I heard about "here", which I started a week or so prior to tx#3, and I'm hopeful it is making a difference.  I'd sure rather not have those injections if I can avoid them!  

So as far as figuring out whether white counts are normal and what is neutropenic:  Kaiser gives you online your test results and what are normal ranges. The day of my tx#3, my numbers were:

WBC's automated count:  my result 4.4.  Standard range is 3.5 - 11.0.  It says units - thous/mm3.

Neutrophils segmented %, BLD:  my result 61 (no standard range listed)

Neutrophils, segmented count, BLD, Qn, man:  my result 2.7. Standard range is 1.7 - 7.5. Units - thous/mm3.  

I was just told this was all good.  It is definitely higher than the counts the day before tx#2 (when I had my port placement):

WBC's automated count: 3.5 (right at the bottom of the standard range).

Neutrophils, segmented %, BLD: 45

Neutrophils, segmented count, BLD, Qn, man: 1.6

One other thing I can tell you - one day makes a HUGE difference.  The day before I had my port placement my counts were below the normal ranges, i.e., my neutrophils segmented count, BLD, Qn, man was .9.  I wasn't taking anything at all (hadn't started the Marrow Plus yet) and they popped up the next day.   Again, this was almost a full 3 weeks after my first treatment.

If I did this right, my most recent ANC was 2684.  I hooooope that trend continues.

On the other hand, I also hope I'm not getting thrush.  I've been lazy about the baking soda rinses this time because I didn't get the little blisters after treatment and the canker sore I had the day of healed up within just a couple of days afterward.  But now foods that are a little spicy are making my throat hurt a little, and I can feel some "rough" spots on the inside of my gums near my teeth.  Checking for white patches, hopefully nothing.  

kjiberty - excellent on the temperature.

vballmom - you've really been through the wringer with all this and I can't even imagine the frustration.

dance and melrose - thanks again for the info regarding the blood work and shots, both of you always have such great information.

I am back home. Tx to one of the onc dr & he thinks the premeds messed me up & they need to be tweeked. He didn't think I had an infection but that the steriods/benadryl were to much for me. I should not have reacted that way. Will tx to my dr be4 infusion so this doesn't happen again.

Melrose,

Thanks for the good wishes. The day was changed, however, to Wed this week as the clinic had overbooked for tomorrow. But yes I do have all my "stuff" ready to go and am as mentally ready to go as I ever will be, I guess.

Thanks to all for the support.

Gemmie

rgina - That is surely too much.  I have been told that things do not really happen for any good reason, most of the time, they just happen.  But that would still leave me wondering why.  Your daughter is a special young lady, that much is obvious.  I will hope that she feels better not only in anticipation of Thursday, but so she also just feels better. 

I wish I could tell you something better than to hang in there - I know you will.  You are both obviously warriors.  

Hugs and purple energy to you both!

Hello everyone! Thought i would start chiming in on conversations as all i do is stay home anymore. I have invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 2a, grade 2. I had my first chemo treatment (TAC) at the beginning of April and will actually have my 4th treatment tomorrow and am already dreading it! Someone mentioned something about ice chips earlier and I was gagging! Blah!

Anyone just wanted to say Hi!

Isharvey, I was watching it while I was plugged in getting chemo. Such a strong woman. Went through all that we are going through. Now this. Hubby couldn't go with me today. My biz partner went. I was sitting there watching, thinking how much that totally sucks and my partner goes, that's you. You are strong like her. Well, that was all that took! Sobbing mess! Haha

kjiberty, hope your mom goes in.

Angie, welcome!

Fierro! You've got this chickie! You are a strong woman! That always cracks my hubby up. (Friends episode when Chandler was trying to quit smoking and listened to the audiotape 'you are a strong and beautiful woman'

Who was talking about forgetting stuff? I went to the bathroom, then went back in 5 minutes later, turned to reach for paper and realized that Im the jerk who left the bathroom with no paper and stranded myself! Dope!

I HATE crying but now that I've started I can't stop!  somebody send in the mops!

Wow, we are an active group this afternoon!  Hugs for everyone who needs them today!!!!  

lsharvey - yeah...the Robin Roberts story really got to me today, too.  So incredibly unfair.  

Angie - welcome!

Fierro - remember to kick your feet in defiance of cancer as you sit in that big girl chair tomorrow!!!  The big C is going down - you GOT this!

rgina - what a great friend!   

Kjiberty, I too hope your mom changes her mind. And, try not to feel any guilt over her choice, whatever it may be, as it is her choice. You are doing all you can.



Sandik, you were watching it WHILE in the big girl chair? Wow. Talk about commitment!

You ARE strong.



I haven"t seen the interview with RR. I think it would make me cry too and I haven't been in the big girl chair yet! It's just plain ole sad, and, as Dancetrance said, unfair. I wish Robin the best. I'm sure we will all be following her story over the next year (and well beyond I hope!)

Hello again everyone! I had my first taxol treatment today. What a difference from the A/C. It took a lot longer but I had no nausea while I was there. I still feel really good twelve hours later which I'm sure has a lot to do with all the steroids I had to take - 5 pills 10 hours before and another 5 pills 5 hours before. Yikes. But my stomach feels completely different this time around.



Anyone who has already had their taxol, did you also have the steroids? They warned me that I probably won't sleep at all tonight which is just great. I so curious to know what will happen once I crash from these steroids. I almost forgot that I had chemo today!



I go for the Neulasta shot tomorrow which I am not looking forward to. My reaction is pain in my TEs (feels like my sin contracts and they get very tight) and pain to the touch across my chest and back of my neck.



Would love to hear from others when the bone pain and steroid crash happened for you. Fingers crossed that is one is truly much better than A/C.



Emotionally, I've been like what everyone else has described. I took a "restorative yoga for cancer" class last week (was so excited to find it!) and almost burst into tears in the middle of the class.



Robin Roberts hit me hard. I. So worried about the impact of all of the crap we are doing to our bodies. And i am not sure I could go through chemo again. It's so unfair.



Good luck to everyone starting tomorrow!



Rose

I haven't even seen Robin's interview and I know it knocked me but we have to remember that we're all different and we'll all fight this monster with everything we have.  I hope all you ladies in the BGC this week have minimal side effects!  Love you all!