Starting chemo Thursday, May 31 - June Group?

Marcia - that was so sweet of your son :-) 

I have been using biotene toothpaste and mouthwash . . . and i like both.  They are designed for people with dry mouth - and I know my mouth has been very dry lately, and the mouthwash is really soothing.  I also got the mouth spray and it was heaven on the days that my mouth was the dryest . . . I just forgot to shake it well before use and it had a weird taste then . ..  but all in all I love them.  You can get them at target, cvs, even costco.  Wow, that sounds like a commercial for them . . . I'm not a salesperson but I really believe in this stuff.

I forget who mentioned coffee, but for me I was a coffee-holic before chemo . . . now I have absolutely no desire to drink it.  To me that is the strangest thing because of how much I loved it before.  I have some teas that I do like.  I got a ginger tea that does help with nausea as long as I dont make it too strong.  I also just got a kiwi-ginger tea from the vitamin shoppe.  I know that Whole foods has an amazing assortment of teas.  I also got a peach-green tea that is pretty good.  The reviews are mixed on green tea and chemo . . . some say it helps the chemo work better, others day dont drink it.  I'm drining it in moderation.

I am on round 3 of ac and I had more se in the beginning, but seem to have recovered faster.  I *almost* feel like my old self.  Well, I feel like my old self sitting on the couch . . . I still get winded/worn out easier than normal, but I feel happier and more motivated to do small things like make dinner and clean the house.  But maybe that is just beacuse I am not working . . .  

klwanderson - Yes, I will be doing rads once I'm done with chemo.  After that, I will have my surgery to exchange tissue expanders.  Hopefully, that will finally be it for me.

Stephanie - That stinks that you are so far from where you need to have rads.  I have a few choices of places.  I'm going to one that's about 20 minutes away.  My friend's husband is the RO.  I didn't care for the one my MO and BS recommended.  I think I will have it every day for 6 weeks, but not sure yet.  He is open until 7 pm, so I am planning on going after work until I'm done.

Pamela, Do they ggive you an anti nausea infusion before the chemo?  And pills to take for 3 days afterward in the morning?

ask them for something.

Marcia- You should be very proud of your sons, sounds like excellant parenting to me!!!   Well done!!

Stephanie

Hi Everyone,

I won't be so chatty like I was yesterday LOL.  Just forgot to tell you that a former chemo patient gave my ON a huge bag of beautiful quilts that she made to give to new patients.  I thought that was so nice and was really touched by it and especially when the nurse chose me as one of the recipients.  So thoughtful, I think.  I'd like to do something like that some day when this is over!  Have to read the posts later.  Good luck to anyone else going for chemo this week. 

stephanieJM, havingfaith, and Pamela - Thank you! 

They just left the house and I find myself getting reflective.  I was diagnosed with BC 3 and 1/2 months ago.  I've had a BMX, reconstruction and now chemo, yet I still find it hard to believe I had cancer. Does anyone else find themselves thinking like that?

Pam I had a delivery today from FedEx - boy did I have to scramble to find something for my head and I was still in my housecoat - wonder what the poor guy thought -- baseball cap and Housecoat.

Marcia, I think we all are wondering how this happened.  Even now after being in dozens of dr. appts., surgery, and now chemo I keep expecting a nurse to run in with a chart and say "I don't know how this happened, we have the wrong person here"!!!!

Pamela and Ellendou,  I kept a baseball cap by the door also, now I wear a scarf around the house, never go bare.... just not comfortable with it.

Pamela at my chemo treatment center there is a big basket of knit and crocheted chemo caps and hats, scarfs.  I remember after my first treatment picking a soft butter yellow one to sleep in, someone had said your head does get cold, I have slept in it a lot, have one other I bought.  Also, there is an organization in Portland founded by a group of young women that puts together BEAUTIFUL gift baskets.  My neighbor showed up at my door with one, huge basket, a set of lovely perfume products, the softest cotton PINK pajamas, a book of HOPE thoughts, several magazines, a frag. candle..... just on and on and very quality products.  I know they accept donations, but the baskets are no charge.  I think they have fund raisers.  This started I understand with a group of young women wanting to do something, and then one of them got cancer.  Just sharing some thoughts.

Good night all, bless you   Stephanie

DorisMarie- So glad to hear your foot is doing better.

Marcia- I know what your mean. I still cant believe I'm going down this journey. That my life has taken this path. I feel that I'v taken pretty good care of my self through the years.  I cant say that I'v ever felt angry over it. My mind starts thinking about all of you wonderful ladies and then I think "why not me. Cancer is every where." All the nice people we run into sure do help!

Keepmoving- I bet the quilt is beautiful!

Stephanie-I too am looking forward to that latte in the afternoon.  I sure hope it taste the same as it did before chemo.

Pam And Ellendou- Your stories make me laugh.

I do walk around the house bald headed most of the time and when I go out I wear a bandanna with a hat over it.  Iv caught myself sticking my head out the door trying to get the cats to come inside. I'm sure the neighbors have seen me a few times.  Our temperature has been around 105, not needing to sleep with anything on my head.  I think Pam mentioned putting water on her head one time. I don't now why that never crossed my mind, but I do it quite a bit now. Thanks Pam!

I have also been wondering about whether we will need the neulasta shot after Taxol.

Pam- Congratulation! Today is your last A/C.

steph..benadryl...pill for allergies..triple antibiotic cream ...topical do- all fix 'er up.here in the south anyway..no bathroom cabinet is with out it..

Stephanie: No Neulasta during Taxol! At least not for me. But I am starting it first, so there may be cumulative effects if you began with AC that will require the Neulasta even while on Taxol.

Super busy today ladies. I will try and post more later. I have read up on each of you though and I am thinking of you always!

Pam: Last day of AC! You are doing it girl! 

Pamela- You are too funny, girl!!!!!!  Wow---- hard to believe that you are ready to move on the Taxol.  It doesn't seem that long ago that you were just starting with the chemo!!!!  Look how far you have come ......

I am doing fine.  Next week will be a busy one--- Monday is my quarterly echocardiogram for the Herceptin clinical trial, Tuesday is chemo #5 (Yippeee!!! only one more after that!!!) and Wednesday is my Neulasta shot.  Hoping all goes well and minimal side effects. 

SpecialK, I had planned on asking about the tumor marker blood test next week.  Hope she does them.  I'd be happy if I had scans and they were negative, too.  Maybe I shouldn't push it.

StephanieJM, thanks for all of the good info.  I'm probably having radiation, too if I opt for a lumpectomy.  I'm so sorry that you have to go such a long distance.  That's crazy!

Pamelahope, yes it has surprised me about people.  And, I'm so glad that I found this board, because who can understand as well as all of you going through the same thing?  Thank God I found it.  I didn't know all that was involved in this. 

Marcia1111, I laughed when you said you were looking for something to wear to chemo, and then thought, where am I going to, a party?  And, the fact that your husband was going to cut his beard and how it related to your bald head.  Very sweet son to make you breakfast.

Hope the rest of the week goes ok for everyone! 

Regarding Neulasta . . . did some of you get it on AC??  I am on AC but havent got it yet . .. . I'm not complaining, just interesting how our treatments differ.  Ihave one more AC on Wednesday then I think I start Taxotere 2 weeks after that!  I just got an appointment card in the mail so I'm not sure why it is 2 weeks not 3 :-(  But I guess that means I am done sooner.  Anyone on taxotere?  Did you have neulasta/neupogen??

Oh and I forgot who mentioned rads, but I am doing chemo first to try and have a lumpectomy so I will need rads . . . and the only place I can go is like an hour away . . . but I'll quit complaining since it is a lot better than being 200 miles away.