Sept 2012 chemo

Mindy,

Unfortunately I think the rate of hair loss is like everything else about this treatment - it's a little different for everyone.  I had pretty thick hair to start with, but after one week of progressively heavy shedding my hair was so thin there was no point having hair.  And after I pulled a giant Wookie out of my shower drain that sealed the deal.

I like to think that as the hair goes, so goes the cancer. 

Good luck! 

I've just had my 2nd treatment and Neulasta shot and have taken Claritin but still have pain. I'm also being horribly reminded that my heart races like crazy when I take Claritin (not to mention the steroids probably contributing to that). I think I'll stick with the pain meds for the few days after the shot. We'll see how next tx goes, cuz this one wiped me out. Do you get the shot with Taxol as well???

aliasismo - my wbc yesterday on the in between week was 1.14, and my MO didn't seem shocked, hoping they do not delay my next chemo on Tues. I'm with you, hate the chemo but don't want to prolong it.

Good Luck!!

Those Undies are GREAT! 

Am I the only one who hasn't lost any hair except on my head?....when did it happen for you all?

Friday is Chemo #2.  I'm on CMF which is only supposed to cause thinning of hair.  I feel guilty that I'm not losing hair like other folks.  Although every little itch or stray eyebrow that falls out gets me on high alert.  I have very thick hair, so even if it thins a lot, I'm hoping it won't be too bad.  I haven't made any plans to get a wig at this point.  I'm just hoping that the thinning is sprinkled throughout and not in clumps! 

I'm having crazy dreams as well.  Vivid and active dreams!  I too tend to do some nesting.  This past weekend, I knew it was the last weekend I would feel good until the next week if things go like they did with #1.  But, by Sunday, realized I had done too much--especially having to go back to work.

This week, I've started having joint pain in my hips and right shoulder.  The right shoulder had surgery a year ago--so it makes me worried.  But, I'm thinking that its the chemo causing the joint pain.  Maybe the Neulasta, but I don't think so.  my injection was on the 21st and I took claritin and never really had any bone pain.  But, because of the anti-nausea meds, i spent most of the time sleeping or lying in bed due to terrible headache.

I see the Doc tomorrow and do labs, then Chem #2 on Friday.  I have developed a bad rash around the site of my port incision.  i think its a delayed reaction to the dermabond.  i immedately started itching after the port surgery.  Didn't have that problem with the dermabond on my breast incision.  i've gotten most of the dermabond off and have coating the benedryl cream on it.   we'll see what the Doc says tomorrow. 

I'm glad to hear others are having the variety of intestinal issues!  one minute its diarrhea and the next its normal.  in between incidents my guts are rumbling and gassy non stop.  Today I've had some indigestion or reflux.  I've been on nexium for years, its rare to have breakthrough reflux.

For those folks who listen to country music, Toby Keith has a new song, "Tough People Do".  i think its my new anthem!  The gist of the song is that tough times don't last, tough people do.  i first heard it on Satellite radio.  NOt sure if its out on regular radio but it is on itunes. 

Teri07-11 how did your 2nd go?  I'm staying busy at work and trying not to worry about #2. 

Parents are taking me and my kids to dinner tomorrow night for mom's birthday, which is Saturday.  I'm so proud of my 13 yr old son, who is normally a grumpy kid who doesn't think about what other people feel.  I overheard him telling his friend that for his birthday, he was just going to have his friend sleep over and then go to a movie because his mother has cancer and money is tight.  Usually, he pitches a royal fit if he doesn't get what he wants.  So hearing him say it was okay that we dont have an extravagant event for #14 bday, made me so proud!

Heres to better times and a normal life, Cancer-free life!  Good luck everyone.

Susan

Any suggestion for food choices to raise the WBC?



Butterfly I have been trying to make good food choices but yesterday I was craving salt so bad, I ate fries and a bag of potato chips!...



Lokimax, you must be so proud after overhearing your son, it brought tears to my eyes. You know from that you have done a great job raising him!

Thanks I am going to try those.

Lokimax he is also 13 and that doesn't help, good to know he still loves mama.



If you look at a map of British Columbia I am in the middle of the province, Prince George. It has a population of about 80,000. The weather is starting to get cold, the people in town woke up to snow yesterday. (We live 26 km. north of P.G.)..we didn't get snow!..Port Coquitlam is in what we call the lower mainland. It is so beautiful down there. We were supposed to RV with our daughter and grandkids to Disneyland, down through Wash, Oregon coast to California And Nevada last July but my Dx changed our plans, so we are doing the trip in May or June. I sure hope nothing derails that trip. We also will go to Vancouver Island for a week on the beach in the summer, with all our kids and grand kids. Of course I have to do herceptin every 3 weeks for a year so I will be working around that.

I hope you are able to get away when your treatment is over, sometimes we need something to look forward to.



Take care

Sherbab - I'm sorry you're having a hard time right now! I think these normally happy milestones can make it extra hard when we're feeling down. I'm coming up on my second wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks, and I can't stop comparing the different place I was in then compared with now. I hope you can have a good anniversay and birthday, and I hope you're able to enjoy some cake! Even if you don't feel up to your birthday on the actual day, I'd say to follow my great aunt Millie's advice: celebrate your birthday for the entire month! Choose a day when you do feel good and do something special.

Speaking of doing something special, today I bought myself a present in anticipating of the Great Shed of 2012 (sometime next week probably). A cool necklace that I'll start wearing when my hair is gone. It's pretty chunky and attention grabbing, so hopefully people will look at it more at that than my head scarf. Also now in a weird way I'm looking forward to losing my hair. But not really. But kind of.

Is anyone experiencing dizziness with taxol or possibly because of low red blood cell counts? I am and it's a drag.

Hope everyone is feeling as good as possible! 

xoxo

Jojo sounds like you are feeling much better

Kstillie.. my MO said no neulasta while on taxol for me. She said its a milder chemo that doesn't knock your immune system down so bad.



Whenlife... wookie lmao love the verbage! I have had long hair my whole life and have pulled many a wookie out...

Almost forgot... about body hair loss. The only hair left on me is arms, brows and eyelashes... I shaved all my body hair about 12 days out and it hasn't returned. Kinda strange getting ready in 30 minutes with a shower but enjoying the break!

Hi All,

   I have been really tired and depressed today.  My birthday is tomorrow- and although my sister and mother are here- I am so obsessed with worrying about losing all of my hair for tomorrow.  I also had planned a small birthday party for my kids (their birthdays were about a week ago, but I was too wiped out from chemo).  I worry about seeing people right now.  I know it is so silly -- and I feel completely vain and ridiculous.  I have a few beautiful wigs at this point an some lovely scarves, but I just don't feel ready.  I guess in some ways the hairloss makes it even more real.  I also would love to have my normal life back.

Sherbab:  Happy Birthday!  We are just a day apart:-)  and happy anniversary too.  I think next year, I am going to plan the biggest birthday party for myself ever.   You should do the same!  We deserve it.  And the idea that I might lose my hair on my birthday completely sucks.  (Heavy sigh)

Aliasiso:  I am so sorry for your delay!  I can relate- I hate chemo, but don't want to delay it any more than necessary.  I just want to be done!  I hope everything goes smoothly for your next round.  I read somewhere that Kale is also really good for white blood cells.  I am going to try to eat a truckload before my blood tests on Monday.

Amy: Congratulations on the shrinkage!!!  I love hearing about how much everyone's cancer is shrinking- it gives me tons of hope.  As for the words- if you mean the sayings, I think you just go to your profile (top bar), then go down to signature and enter whatever saying or words you like.

 Whenlife:  My hair has always been super long - so I have also pulled many a wookie from my drain.  The only thing that will be nice about not having any hair is not having to cut the wookie free from my vacuum cleaner every other week! 

Hoping everyone has minimal SE and plenty of energy to carry you through your week!  And let's hope all of us struggling with some sadness can feel supported and reminded that this is temporary.- which someone here once told me, and it helped immensely.  

Hello to all! 

It seems that many of us are facing round 2 of whatever cocktail our docs are prescribing.  It seems harrowing to me to wait!  As much as i want to wish this away, I know that the only way out is forward.  With the vivid dreams it seems as though I am in a "house of horrors"!

Tomorrow they do bloodwork to determine if i can have round 2 next Tuesday.  Still not supposed to have visitors and am supposed to limit outings to medical stuff.  Not that I have a lot of energy, yet, but i would like to go look at fabric for scarves!  ordering online is ok for basics, but (I hope) it would be fun to try on hats and the like.  Okay, maybe not.

I've started using a lint roller on my head.  it seems to help.  Additionally, my eyebrows are thinning.   I hope to keep my eyelashes.  My sweet husband keeps telling me that this is how we know that the "bad" brain cells are being attacked.  Personally, I think that all my brain cells are under attack - ha!  Chemo brain is now my excuse for nearly everything!!  In the hospital, the doc said that the goal was to kill the cancer without killing me.  Worthy goal, by me.

I'm thinking that once the rest of my hair is gone that i am going to get a henna tattoo on my head that says "fight like a girl".  I can do henna, can't I?  I'll check with the doc.  It seems a shame to let such a fun opportunity pass by without some sort of art work.  I'm not a tatt kind of person, but henna on my baldness seems okay, somehow.  Sweet husband isn't so sure, but he will do whatever it takes to help me smile.

Keep up the good work, ladies!  We are in this tunnel and the only way out is through - so off we go!  Here's wishing minimal SEs for everyone

sherrie