2012 sisters

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  • MrsCich
    MrsCich Member Posts: 409
    edited October 2012

    Got my labs today and my white blood count was very low. The neutrophil count was 100 and they said they need it above 1000. My onc is calling in a script for Cipro to prevent my getting an infection, stronger meds for my horrible yeast infection, and a gel for the itchy bumps I have everywhere. I don't know my other numbers yet but I will post them for your input ASAP.

  • mcook301
    mcook301 Member Posts: 509
    edited October 2012

    I am not sure if this photo work I am still trying to post

  • mcook301
    mcook301 Member Posts: 509
    edited October 2012

    ugh I can not get that photo of Maiya to upload sorry working on it

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2012

    There are lots of good people in this world. Twice this week I've had mothers of the other children at my sons' preschool reach out to me and offer to help. One woman sent a card with her numbers and offered up playdates or to take the boys. And one just called me offering to bring over a home-cooked meal one night. And can I also mention that the day I shaved my head my older son's pre-k teacher had the class make a project for me - I giant heart with all of their little handprints in it. I get teary eyed as I write this. Just wanted to share...

  • 2FriedEggs
    2FriedEggs Member Posts: 640
    edited October 2012

    ramols- I love hearing that. The heart brings tears to my eyes just reading about it!

    MrsCich so sorry to read about all you're se's dang

  • shockd
    shockd Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2012
    My smile for the day:  While having lunch, our waitress came up to me & said "I noticed your scarf, I just wanted to tell you I dealt with uterine cancer last year, so I hope you're doing well"... I let her know BC, asked how she was - she said she had some health issues (from the chemo) but she beat the cancer.  We talked some more, and when I got up to leave, we shared a BIG hug.  Awesome.
  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited October 2012

    Tazzy:  Still seem to be fighting the fight for insurance to cover Nuepogen.  Approved thru Pharmacare but that is $2300 max out of pocket with them.  I received a turn down letter from my Extended Medical for it but am reapplying because my Onco sent off to them without all the proper paperwork from BC Pharmacare....I thought he just applied for the Neulasta.  This stuff can drive me crazy!  Hoping this will get straightend out before cycle 2.

    Thankful the SE's are not bad today so far ... Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all us Canadians and have a wonderful weekend to everyone else. 

    (((Gentle Hugs))) 

  • marianelizabeth
    marianelizabeth Member Posts: 1,735
    edited October 2012

    halfcan, according to Pharmacare we would be $2750 out of pocket but according to Victory Program, not so much. I think we will remain confused until I actually go to buy the Neupogen. But at least we are better off than liefie as seems the Victory Program was not active for her in March and she was denied by Pharmacare.

    Off in an hour for the port insertion at VGH and was just at Costco and asked about the EMLA cream. It was $44.95. I am wondering if maybe I can get a Rx so at least that can go to the max deductible? Also did you get an Rx for ranitidine? Since it is OTC I wonder whether to fill the script or buy OTC. But then I don't know if it comes in 150 mg or if it matters. More small decisions but they sure are constant! 

  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 2,546
    edited October 2012

    Ramols... what a wonderful gesture.   Gives you faith back in human kindness eh?

    Bloody insurance companies.... makes me so mad.  We have enough crap to deal with without the bureaucracy of men in suits without a clue... grrrr !!   Its not like you're asking for these drugs for the hell of it.

    To those with SE's hoping they start fading soon.  

    Happy Turkey Day to all in Canada. 

  • Scorchy
    Scorchy Member Posts: 240
    edited October 2012

    Oxycodone.  Dude.

     

  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 2,546
    edited October 2012

    Happy tripping baby...!

  • PinkyWI
    PinkyWI Member Posts: 73
    edited October 2012

    OMG Scorchy, isn't that the truth!

  • KarenZ0305
    KarenZ0305 Member Posts: 487
    edited October 2012

    Ann that is great. You made me giggle about your DH waking you up. During chemo my DH would make me take an Ativan before bed so I would sleep (had insomnia a lot-darn steroids!) but then would wake me up so I would stop snoring!



    My dr had me do chemo before any surgery and am happy to say that when surgery came around my almost 4cm tumor was gone!

  • Chrisrenee77
    Chrisrenee77 Member Posts: 1,032
    edited October 2012

    Well my happy for the day.... My drain tubes were detached from me today. Thank goodness. It was instant relief when they were removed. Thank you all for your well wishes. My PS did another fill of 50ccs today. I go back in a week and a half for another fill. I had previously thought about not doing nipple reconstruction. So if we are able to do just the exchange in December, then I have a good chance of being able to doing the nips as well. But if we have to adjust the pockets for the perm. Implants then I won't be able to. So we will see.

    Ann- I too was dying laughing when I read your post. My husband has a hell of a time waking me up to move from his side of the king size bed to my side.

    I hope all is going well for everyone. Hope those darn SE's doesn't ruin anyones weekend. As for my weekend, I will be out in the 50 degree temps tomorrow morning cheering on my amazing son as he runs his 5K tomorrow for crosscountry.

  • whenlifegivesyoulemons
    whenlifegivesyoulemons Member Posts: 184
    edited October 2012

    Hi everyone!

    New to this particular discussion group.  Hope you're all getting ready to enjoy a beautiful fall weekend.

    Karen Z - I have a similarly sized tumor, that is thankfully shrink, shrink, shrinking and so I am hoping that will allow me to skip radiation.  So, I'm wondering if you'd share why you had to have radiation if the tumor resolved? Is the radiation recommendation based entirely on the overall size at diagnosis only with no consideration to tumor resolution? Or is it also based on size of clean margins at surgery?  I have my first meeting with the RO on Monday, but wanted to do some background research as a little pre appointment homework.

  • Cottontail
    Cottontail Member Posts: 374
    edited February 2013

    Oh wow, I *wish* oxycodone did that for me. It just puts me to sleep (almost instantly) and then four hours later I wake up with a headache and nausea like a bad hangover. My ENT gave me oxycodone for each sinus surgery, and I took the bare minimum to get me by. I think I still have sixty or so left. Maybe I should sell them on the street to pay for my medical bills now, lol.

  • Chrisrenee77
    Chrisrenee77 Member Posts: 1,032
    edited October 2012

    cottontail- no joke! My PS gave me 3 refills for my hydrocodone I've still got 1.5 perscriptions left. Then he gave me 2 refills of valium. I'm in love with this man. Keep my ass drugged up to where I could care less what's going on.

    whenlifegivesyoulemons- welcome to the group, I don't know anything about RadTX but some of the other ladies on here will be able to help you. They are amazing and wonderful.

  • Cottontail
    Cottontail Member Posts: 374
    edited February 2013

    Oh wait, I was confused - it's HYDROcodone that knocks me out, gives me a hangover, and I have dozens of in the cabinet. OXYcodone takes away my pain, doesn't make me sleepy, and I feel completely normal when taking it. My current doctors seem reluctant to prescribe it to me. (As reference, Tylenol3 does a whole lot of nothing for me, though I seem to be able to get that fairly easily, too.)



    I've taken too many things in the last few months to keep them straight anymore, haha.

  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 2,546
    edited October 2012

    Welcome whenlifegivesyoulemons (make margaritas Wink).     Sorry you find yourself here, but you'll find all the comfort and support you need.   You'll see from my signature I had chemo first then surgery (chemo shrank that little bastard tumour from 8+cm to practically nothing) now I have started rads.  When I asked why as I had clear margins too I was told its that added insurance.  #2 of 28 today.

    Wishing all a wonderful weekend with minimal SE's.

  • Chrisrenee77
    Chrisrenee77 Member Posts: 1,032
    edited October 2012
    Tazzy- the margaritas sound great, if one could keep them down though. Innocent  Hope you are feeling well tonight, does the Rad Tx have any side effects?
  • shockd
    shockd Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2012

    Whenlife  ... my Oncologist explained it to me like this, because I wanted to know why I had to do both:  Chemo does system wide (whole body) cancer-killing, for those loose floaties that cause problems in other areas like liver,lungs,brain,bones.  The radiation targets the possibility of a local re-occurence, and further reduces the likelihood of the cancer getting out to the other areas of your body - which I guess is a concern for me because although my tumor was slow growing, it was quite big (their words), and had several small ones around it.  Also, for me, because it was in a couple of lymph nodes, they wanted to radiate to assure themselves that they were catching everything in the rest of the lymph nodes in the area (rather than do more surgery to remove more & do pathology).  That's the extent of my knowledge!  I hope you don't mind me parroting what the two Drs told me - Onc & Rad.   Carol

    p.s. Labs okay, I'm on for Tuesday, #3. Wish me luck. 

  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 2,546
    edited October 2012

    Well so far no se's at all.  But I'm only on #2.   Shocked explained it just as my RO & MO & BS did.   When I asked the rad tech about the boosts she said "they concentrate on where the tumour was, we go in and clean up any microscopic stragglers that may have been left behind.  In a word we clean up the surgeons work and make them look good" Wink

    My RO did say any se's will not likely kick in for a couple of weeks.   So I am just enjoying when I feel good.  If that time comes and tiredness and soreness sets in I'll deal with it then.

    Yay no rads for 3 days here... Thanksgiving weekend for us in Canada.

  • shockd
    shockd Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2012

    Happy Thanksgiving Tazzy, and all Canadian sisters!

  • christina0001
    christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
    edited October 2012

    Well happy thanksgiving tazzy and all other Canadians. :)

  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited October 2012

    Marianelizibeth...Don't know what rantadine is? The EMLA cream I got at Shoppers Drug Mart for $11.69. It is the small tube and the keep it behind the pharmacy counter. Shouldn't need a Costco size!

    I hope your port insertion went ok today. Gentle hugs tonight.

    Thinking of you all this evening!

    Sleep easy with few SE's I hope.

  • Tazzy
    Tazzy Member Posts: 2,546
    edited October 2012
  • Scorchy
    Scorchy Member Posts: 240
    edited October 2012

    Happy Thanksgiving to those in the Great White North.
    Smile

    We have a lot for which to be grateful in our lives--even with effing cancer.  Like all of YOU, for instance.

  • chrissera
    chrissera Member Posts: 79
    edited October 2012

    good morning all. Had LX surgery yesterday, was home by dinner. Surgeonseemed happy with the results. Feeling pretty sore today, didn't sleep well, have to find a comfy way to lay.



    Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian friends... do you eat turkey on your holiday as we Americans do? if you do, someone have a plate for me.. that it my favorite! Now that I am thinking of it,may have to get my sister to make it fordinner tomorrow!

    HUgs to those with SEs this weekend.

  • MrsCich
    MrsCich Member Posts: 409
    edited October 2012

    Hi all!



    Happy Thanksgiving Canadian Ladies!!!



    Day 8 post chemo and physically I feel well. As I mentioned yesterday, I got my labs and my WBC was non existent but my onc didn't give me Neulasta. Not sure why. The range they should be according to my paper is 5.0-9.0 and mine was 0.7. Neutrophil count should be 1.8-8.3 and mine was 0.1. So I'm on an antibiotic to prevent infection. A super duper dose of Diflucan to fix the super duper yeast infection I have and a gel for the awful bumps I have on my face, scalp, back and neck which she said chemo induced acne. REALLY?!?!? Ugh. Still no nausea thankfully. She said to hold off on shaving my head until the itchy bumps go away. Blah.



    My 7 year old has strep and in trying to tend to her while not being too close. Kind of difficult. Tomorrow we are supposed I go to Audobon Zoo and insectarium in New Orleans for my 4 y/o birthday. Big plans this weekend...hope I can keep up and not get sick.



    Have a good weekend ladies. ((((((Hugs))))))). 💐🌸🌷🌺

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,942
    edited October 2012

    Chrissera - Home and relaxing!! I remember very little of that first day. I could lay on my non-surgical side OK. Could not pull covers over me for 3-4 days. Don't be surprised when your abs get sore. I found I used them so much more and I was (still am) very out of shape. It took me I think about 1.5 months before I could sleep on LX side though I was sleeping soon on my back. Watch out for constipation; sneaky but I think you've probably been there b4 with your chemo.  I had a terrible bra they sent me home in. Fit NOT at all. I bought and still am wearing Fruit of the Loom front close sports bras from WalMart. Give me a uniboob smushed look but comfy and OK under scrubs. I do have finally some better fitting bras again from WalMart Fruit of the Loom soft unconstructed regular bras. I bought a "breast enhancer" insert from JoAnns Fabrics. I use it for short term (church) but it sticks to the site if I sweat too much. I've never made it to the breast boutique at my hospital. I think after I see BS in January that will be my first stop. My LX was 3 o'clock L side. I was shocked when I added the measurements for the LX but she got clear margins so WTH!! But am 42-44 C-D so had extra so to speak. At my age (60) size diff. what there is is not imp. Comfort is.  And those clear margins.

    There are days still when I first get up esp. that LX side hurts. I think it is gravity/position change. A little support with the hand and its better.

    I would find myself as I healed with a cold hand on esp SNB site (it was Feb.) Never was told to ice or such and never did but it might have helped some, at least a gentle icing.

    What kind of dressing or such did you come home with? I had surgical glue/no dressing/no drains/terrible bra I ditched for my own. Ate lightly first day or 2 then no problems until the big C took me by surpise and I'm a hospice nurse so specialize so to speak in C. Sent DH out for some Senokot. You probably drink water better than I ever would/could.

    Rest/relax/play Queen of the Couch. I set my couch up with a little table (or TV tray) just beside it for phone, drink, reading material. Pain meds as you need them. I split mine in 1/2. I would have snoozed the entire day with a whole one. I know you know to ask questions and use your smarts.

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