Calling all TNs

fishinurse, sadly it is not uncommon for men to leave when a women gets a breast cancer dx. There are many women on these boards, including me, who have been abandoned by men when we thought we needed them the most.  I have no words of wisdom for you. But for now, just look after yourself. There are many supportive women on these boards who will help you get through treatment.

fishinurse and browerl...we are with you every step of the way.  The first is the scariest because it is the unkown.  In just a few short months you will be coming here to encourage the next round of ladies starting treatment.  It will go by so fast and before you know it you will be back on with your life.  One step at a time.  Be sure to join the current Chemo gals in the thread for starting this month.  That way you can also compare notes with other ladies in active treatment too.  Ask anything,  nothing is off limits, and you will get the answers you need.  Take care and may the SE be minimal

Maggie

Bernie love the Mastiff puppy pic.  I have a 2 year old mastiff and would love to share the pic but I don't know how to get it on here.

Hi everyone!  I had a few minutes to read through everyone's posts and wanted to make a few comments about going through chemo.

CS - yes, I drank 96 ounces of something each and every day for the 4 months I was on chemo.  That includes juicy fruits, veggies, tea, coffee, water, whatever tastes good.  I think it helped minimize SEs.

I would NOT recommend taking something for constipation in advance of your first treatment.  Like Tif, I never had a problem with constipation, and leaned more in the other direction.  Taking a stool softener could cause explosive diarrhea and dehydrate you if you happen to be like me.

I agree about eating small amounts frequently to ward off nausea.  Think of chemo as a bit like morning sickness (for anyone whose been pregnant, you know what I mean).  Hunger is a bad thing. 

If you are given Emend, take it as directed (usually one as a pre-med then one each day after chemo for two days).  It's a wonder drug, really.  If it's not offered to you, ask for it.  If you have a tendency to get seasick, or if you tend to have reactions from anesthesia, ask for the scopolamine patch.  You apply it right before chemo and take it off after four days.  Works like a charm.  It's the patch you'll see people wearing on cruises. 

Whatever you do, don't suffer silently.  There is a med for every SE except hair loss and fatigue.  Tell your chemo nurse or oncologist if you are struggling.  This is not the time to "tough it out."

And good luck to those of you just starting the chemo journey.  It really will go faster than you think.

 

I did it! this is my baby Rocko I will put up a better pic but this one is my favorite he was laying upside down when I snapped this picture.   

 

Ladies, thanks again, for all the conversations. Love the support, laughs, hints that each of you brings. This week has been hard for me. Battling the 'why me's". Apologizing in advance for what may be a long post.

Last Sunday spent in ER, literally. 10:30P-5:00AM. Cancer card got us a private waiting room, to avoid all the germs. I had swollen hard lump on my cheek, next to ear. When I started running fever, and redness ensued, on-call MO, said go to ER. turns out the parotid gland was infected. Had dangerously low potassium, also. Diagnostic CT also showed enlarged thyroid. IV antibiotics, and 10 day Rx. My MO said they would give me names of endocrinologists for enlarged thyroid at next appt. But my PCP called after seeing ER report, and sent me for ultrasound. Had that on Wed. Primary called , said found mass on parathyroid, and nodules on thyroid, and that I should see recommended endocrinologist within 2 weeks. They can't see me til 30th. When I called my MO, they didnt seem concerned. I have my consult with the MO, on Tues, before my first Taxotere. Feeling like my fears were not addressed by my MO. Obviously, there will be some discussion at my appt. BS surgeon was highly optimistic, saying, they 'got it all' from breast. Since it appeared that my tumor was much larger at surgery, than MRI showed 2 weeks earlier, my mind is going to the "aggressive nature" of TN. So hard for me, not to assume those 3 positive nodes spread cells everywhere.

Hair-- still have stubble, a few longer hairs showing up, assuming Taxotere will cause hair on my head, eyebrows, and lashes to go, again.

Feeling really down, and thinking the 3 FEC tx's haven't done their job, and my suffering these SE's have been for naught.

Sorry for the long rant, I just had to unload a bit. I hate unburdening on my DH, he is wonderful, but doesn't like to hear my negative thoughts.

Thanks, for listening.

~Joyce

Joyce,

Try not to worry, that is what Xanex or Ativan are for.

I have a wonderful friend who helped me get through treatment. She survived BC when our kids were in kindergarten together. She has BMX, chemo, rads the whole nine yards. Then she went through treatment for thyroid cancer! they found her third cancer at the same time as her BC but waited to treat it til after they treated the BC.

I am not jumping to conclusions, YOU have not been diagnosed with anything.

What I can tell you is my friend is fine! She is healthy and one incredible lady. I thank God for her help every day. She told me that the treatment for thyroid cancer was way easier than BC.

I hope this helps you and doesn't get you more upset. I will be praying for you.

T

Hi Browerl, Calva is a Dogue de Bordeaux (french mastiff).  Ben is a beagle/terrier (rescue dog).  Gunnar is a pitbull/rottweiler.  He is 2 and the gentlest dog I have ever owned.

I live in the country so lucky enough to have room for them all.  Plus the pony, chickens, turkey and goats - all pets.   Have five small chicks just born this week.  Can all be a bit manic at times.

Hello & Welcome fishinurse,

I fully understand your "need to be productive". Being a nurse, you are used to multi-tasking and being busy your whole work day. It is natural to feel that you have to "do" something. It is not natural to suddenly "have time on your hands".  

My former career was as a histotechnician in a hospital pathology lab ( yep - I'm the tech who handled the breast specimens, breast biopsies, ER/PR, pathology reports...go figure ). I, too, was crazy-busy until MS sent me home. 

I used to get so frustrated, because I wasn't getting all these things done. I had this "free" time, and I wasn't using it. I mentally beat myself up - alot. Then one day, I came to my senses and realized that "hey stupid, you're home for a reason...if you could do all those things...you'd still be working!!! Duh". Oh, I still get mad/sad about it, but I just keep plodding (wobbling!) along, and do what I can at the speed that I can. Of course, BC put a whole new wrinkle on my story, but I got through it - probably easier than most, because I was already used to infusions, meds, and endless appointments. Plus -and a very big plus - was becoming a member of this website and its discussion groups. At first I just read - and learned so much. Then I started chiming in. Now it is nice to actually be able to pass on advice and stories about my BC experience. Makes me productive!!!

You are not "on vacation". You have a new, albeit temporary job - taking care of YOU and beating BC. Gather up all that determination and hard work that you put into nursing school, and throw it into defeating this beast. BC is tough...Nurses are tougher!!! (Watch out, ex-boyfriend!)

As for your friends and coworkers saying that "you are lucky to have time off", they are just talking without thinking. I heard the same things.  Most of them mean well, probably just trying to make you feel better about missing work. Of course, some may actually be jealous that you aren't working - because you sort of have this 'excuse' not to work. They have no comprehension of what having BC entails - they are completely naive to the situation. I'm sure most of us were, pre-BC dx. Your friends will learn more about it as they travel this rocky road with you, and they won't say those goofy things quite so easily. Like many of these gals have mentioned, you will find out who you're true friends are... the ones who are there through the good times and the bad. (and for us chemo ladies, for the good times and the bald!) 

You, too, will get through this. You will tell future BC-newbies your story, and will help guide them along their BC journey. AND...you will be one fabulous, loving and caring hospice nurse!!!

Take Care ~ Shar

P.S. Do you love to fish? 

OMG! Laughed so hard!

Wow,beautiful dog,reminds me of one of my dogs,shadow. I found him when i went fishing a couple years ago,very thin,not able to walk well, Took him to the vet,he had been abused,guessed his age to be around 5-6 months. He is the same color,is a boxer mix,someone told me he resembled a french bulldog,and,looking at this picture,i would say he is right! I call him shadow because he is practically attached to my hip! I love him and he is a great comfort to me.

Good Luck today, fish.  And same to you tomorrow, brow.

I see ther e are more new girls here over the past few days.  A big welcome to all of you.