December 2012 chemo group

jenjel, good for you calling it your treatment, I know I have to think of if that way too.  With us TNs it is so important to get that chemo in there to start doing what it needs to do since we don't have any more medications to fall back on once treatment it complete.  Sounds silly but I visualize the chemo as these tiny little robots that are running around my whole body and chomping the bad cells, my next treatment is the 26th and I'm already thinking "Bring it On, kill all those little buggers"  I know that TN is scary once you'e checked around with Dr. Google but you need to keep in mind that a lot of the information you are seeing is old already, you are receiving the best care you can with today's best medications.  I've decided that I have to deal with mine as Once Step at a Time, this first step is treatment (chemo, surgery, maybe more chemo and rads), and this first step I am actually hapy about since that is the step that is getting rid of this thing out of me.  Next step (after treatment) is I need to make changes, exercise and diet have shown to be very beneficial to TNs and I am already signed up for a yoga class, am walking every day (energy willing right now of course), knowing that I am doing everything in my power to stay healthy for a long time afterwards has done wonders for me. You will do great tomorrow!

Bren58, I hear you about the dry hands, my skin is already dry all over to start with and I have been having to moisturize like crazy the last week or so between the dry winter air here and the chemo it's brutal.  I have about 4 tubes of moisturizer in my bag so that I am never caught without it. Even my nose is so dry that it's bleeding and I'm using the Naso Gel to try to keep that moisturised.

Runnergirl2013, how is you hair doing today?  I'm curious as we are on the exact same schedule, my scalp is still sore but I still have most of my hair, although there sure was a lot more in the tub and on the towel after my shower earlier, but I could at this point still pull off short hair without a hat.

Dwihtd, I agree with Runnergirl2013 on the walking, I've tried to go every day since I started chemo and yes some days it takes all my mental fortitude to get out that door but man do I feel better afterwards, both physically and mentally, it really boosts my positive energy, which we all need right now more than ever.

Goodnight Everyone.

Hey Girls!

It's only day 14 for me and its starting... Hair is starting to come out in chunks... Anyone else out there who started on the 4th? My scalp was hurting the last couple days... Feeling like some one had been tugging on it when I touched it.



It's a good thing I just got my buffs on the mail yesterday! They are so comfy! Thanks for the tip on that one! But I recommend to folks not to get women's slim fit I think they are a bit tight. Though I have a lot of hair so maybe they won't be without a thick head of hair to cover. It's still a bit of a shock. I have so much thick hair I wonder if I should wait a day or two or just shave it off now. My wig place said I could go back there and they would do it and also trim my wig and show me how to style it etc. I hope the wig is comfortable to wear... It looks really nice. Maybe I'll put a pic up there on the styrofoam head. It's very hard to wear while I do have my hair. Maybe I'll make it a mother daughter thing and have mom come with me to the wig salon.



Oh, and yesterday I realized I could tie my own darn turban... Didn't need to go out and buy them... I have lots of scarfs. As long as you have a scarf that is cotton and longer than wide rather than the square ones, you can just wrap it around your head twice, tie in the back, and it looks pretty good.



Sheesh, just in time for Christmas! Oh well, I feel I am all prepared with various head coverings. And my DB (dear boyfriend) has been great about it all - he doesn't care and is thinking of getting a buzz cut in solidarity. Of course he's an ex Navy guy so that's not to new for him... But it's the thought that counts! And he loves the different head coverings I've collected. :-)



More later.....

Good luck bren!

I'm back from my first appointment with the onco and I'm going to start chemo December 28th. It will be cytoxan and adriamycin. I also confirmed (finally...) that I am HER2 negative and my "main" tumor was 1.3 cm instead of 2.5cm that showed up on my MRI. So I think this puts me on stage IIa. One of my nodes had a micro-what's-it's-name so I'm not sure if that makes me a stage Ib, I don´t really care because chemo is waiting for me anyway... My onco said that if I saw ten doctors, about 6 or 7 of them would recommend chemo, I agreed. So it will be four cycles, and then 5 years of tamoxifen. Another confirmation today that I should start thinking about adoption if and when I want to be a mommy. I'm 34 and never had kids Bummer...

Soteria, lets keep in touch. I'd like to know how you are doing since we are like sisters in this war on BC.



The past couple of days have been hard, emotionally and physically. I have a 7 yo son who has been sick with a virus for 2 weeks. Despite masks, gloves, hand washing....I caught the crud. Been coughing my head off. Had to take a trip to ER on Sunday, spent hours there getting lots of blood tests and cultures. My WBC are extremely low, but they sent me home to rest, drink liquids, and watch my temp. At least the ER Doc had a great sense of humor and his wife had been through BC.



The biggest thing is that my hair is now coming out by the fistfuls. It is disheartening. No matter how much you think you prepared mentally for this moment.....it comes and it sucks big time. I have a plethora of scarves, 2 wigs, and a few hats. But geez, I was really hoping that against all odds that it would hang on. I knew that this was "the week"....and so I noticed I've been putting my hands through my hair a lot. So when you start getting a lot in your hand. Whaaaaaaaaaa! So I crawled into my shower, sat on the shower stool and bawled until the hot water heater ran out.



This morning my pillow is full of hair and I'm thinking maybe today is GI Jane Day. Today is my 19th anniversary. Dear Husband, welcome to your new wife.



Chrisvel, I'm with you in heart. Today's the day! Good luck. </p>

Paula (Soteria 205), thank you so much for your words of encouragement, so nice to know good news from someone who's doing the same medication as me! You're having your second round the same day I have my first one, so please keep me (well, us) posted.  I'll do the same. I feel some mental relief now... 

Hi ladies!  I haven't posted since my first chemo (AC) on 12/14.  I have done remarkably well so far.  I was fatigued and napped a bit for the first two days after treatment but yesterday I just rested a bit.  I was able to do everything that we had planned over the weekend and yesterday I even did a little Christmas shopping after my neulasta shot.  My biggest side effect has been that my mouth feels slightly irritated, like I burned it with a hot cup of coffee.  I am using my mouthwash every time I eat.  I had one epidsode of feeling slightly queasy last night but I took my meds and it passed quickly. 

I am hoping and praying that my SE do not get worse since chemo is cumulative.  Has anyone else had worse SE with additional AC treatments?  I am going dose dense treatment every other week so I go back on the 28th. 

I am also dreading losing my hair.  I wanted to be proactive with the Christmas holiday so I have an appointment to get my hair cut/shaved and my very cute new wigs tailored to fit this Friday.  I couldn't bear to have my DH with me for this event...not sure why since he has been such a trooper with my surgery...so my sister is going with me.  I am so very sad about losing my long, curly hair but it has helped to read so many of you say that it was not as bad as anticipated.  I'm hoping the dreaded anticipation will be worse than the actual event. 

I hope everyone has a great day.  I am going to venture out to finish Christmas shopping and hopefully take a three mile walk as we are having abnormally warm temperatures in Missouri today. 

Hugs and love to my fellow women warriors!

Good morning ladies! One week until Xmas! Thanks for weighing in on the alcohol thing. If a beer or wine tastes good on Xmas Eve I will have one. If not, that's okay too.

Judaday - we are on the same treatment on the same schedule!

Bren58 - Good luck with Round Two! ding ding ding!

Runnergirl - Hoping you get low liver counts today and that your 4-year old is a good little companion!

Sophiafred - you have pretty much the same diagnosis as me. If it wasn't for that damn smidgeon in my lymph node I may have been able to avoid chemo. Oh well, just letting the little warrier chemo drugs work their magic on my bod. I'm slated to follow up with radiation and tamoxifen. Talk about doing everything you can! Had a double mastectomy too!

Beachlovingmom - Yeah, this hair thing is a challenge. My hair was shoulder lenth and quite thick. I cut it into a pixie on Saturday and really like it. I know it's fleeting but I figured baby steps would be a little easier. Judging by what the board is saying my hair will start falling out on Thursday so I may shave it this weekend. I'm wearing my wig at work and am happy to have it although will go for scarves and buffs at home.

I've had sniffles for the last couple of days and am a bit sneezy. A cold or side effects? I feel fine otherwise. Hoping it's SEs. Happy Tuesday everyone!

FriendGwen~Is there a video or site that shows you how to wear the buffs? I think they look great, but I don't have a clue how to do them. I have several scarves, 3 hats and a wig. I don't work outside the home, so I'll probably only wear my wig to church on Sundays. I'll even wear scarves to Wednsday night Bible study.



Blessings

Paula

Runnergirl - Uh oh.. now that I've inspired you you've inspired me to keep with it. I'm sitting at my desk with my tennis shoes next to me and a great walking path out my door. Okay, okay... I'll go walk.

Paula - there is a youtube video. Google "how to wear a buff" and you'll find a cute outdoorsy dude explaining on the ways he wears it.

Runnergirl~I envy you and other runners/walkers. My doctor told me to give it up as every time I jogged my thighs rubbed together so much my underwear caught on fire!

Actually, I have degenerative joint disease in my spine & knee, and I walk with a cane. I'd love to be able to be more active.



Blessings

Paula

Steiner - Yeah, I'm taking that mega dose 50,000 of Vitamin D. What were the SEs your friend had? I've taken it twice and haven't noticed anything.

Sophia and Friendgwen-my diagnosis is similar to both of yours and my breast surgeon said there was the same prognosis for a lumpectomy vs. a mastectomy and said there was no better outcome from taking all the lymph nodes than to take one. I was glad she felt that way because my dearest friend, a 10 year survivor of bc, has terrible problems with lymphadema, and I wanted to avoid that if I could. At this point, I am glad I still have my boobs, but I don't know if I will feel like that a year from now. I might still get a bmx.

Gwen, your cheerful attitude just cheers me up! I find myself looking for comedies to watch on tv, and find a reason to laugh ou loud every day. It seems to help. I have been having a hard time getting out to walk. I live where the wind never seems to stop blowing in the winter. It's a challenge for me to make myself go out in it even when I am feeling good. It really does improve how I am feeling when I do get out.

Sophia - glad you have a workable plan! It is always good to know what the next steps are. Keep in contact with the other girls with the same dx/tx. They will be a great support.

Dawn - so sorry about you and your son being sick. Seems just not fair with everything else!

Beach - glad you are doing well so far. The hair thing is a big deal, but you might feel better if you take control of when it goes even though you can't control that it is inevitably going.

I am back from round #2. The day went well but was long as usual. Got there at 8:30am and didn't leave until 4:30pm. I guess I have one more day of feeling ok before the inevitable steroid crash and fatigue. At least this time around I know more of what to expect and have all the meds, etc to counter the SE's. I am taking my stool softeners and fiber so I don't wind up with the big C this around!

I love have all you girls and your support and encouragement!

Jenjen - glad you got round #1 over with! Hope you can get some sleep tonight.