Starting chemo November 2012

Hey luvbugs, we r traveling from Ark. to Cali. Instead of taking us 2 days its taking 3. I am so excited to see my babies, they don't know we r on the way. We r bringing back my baby dd, she has taken a leave from her job to come take care of me. My children are the best!!! My ds is helping her financially until she either goes back or finds employment in Ark. When I think of my children and dh I know despite this awful illness I am truly Blessed!! Hugs to you and yours!!!

hahahahaha maryah!!!!

Paula - My husband buzzed mine this morning. I've been trying out different hats and scarves.  Most everything is itchy!  I think my scalp is still sensitive, but I wonder if I will be able to adjust to wearing something on my head.

It's not so bad.  You will probably be glad to get it done once it starts coming out big time.

Martha

Thanks powermom, They have all really come through for me and their dad. Cant wait to see em tomorrow. If I know nothing else I know that I am Loved by my Family, and even though we are going through this awful period we are all going through it together, they are fighting this cancer shit by my side. Have a wonderful, stress free, pain free, chemo free xmas everybody!!!! Love you All my sisters!!!

I took a few days off from the board and had so much to catch up on!!

Macyhen - have a wonderful time with the grandkids!

5luvbugs - so thankful your scans came back clear!!! Love your new picture.

Powermom - go to Walmart and buy some of those soft headbands.  It helps cushion the hats and wigs for me so they're not so itchy.

Nothing but Love for my Survivor Sisters!!!! We will Knock this disease to it's knees. I'm planning on a cancer free 2013!!!

I got my last FEC today, start with taxotere in three weeks. It seems like a Christmas miracle but I feel okay. I hope it stays tomorrow. We plan to spend a pyjama Christmas, with food (DH is cooking) and movies.

Enjoy Christmas with no SE, surrounded by family and/or friends, and of course lots of gifts :-)

Just came in from a nice night with my family, we took our annual Christmas photo under the tree but guess who cried - Me!!  I don't know what happened I was just so sad and tired and happy and overwhelmed and everything all at once.After the pic I put my wig in my bag and wore a turban, frig the hair, I'm sick of wigs...

Sickofpink, you can always text me in the night, I hardly sleep but tonite I hope to...

No wine for a toast just ginger ale and the same as the rest of you always worried about those germs - feel like I'm a bear in hibernation...Don't even let too many friends visit - we can't take a chance now, we've gone this far...OK my friends, I'm sure I'll find some of you here during the night....Sweet dreams..Sleep tight 

here's an appropriate poem for the holiday season

thanks to feistybluegeko....

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHEMO

On the first day of chemo -  these delights came to me

The most scary,bright pink pee

On the second day of chemo -  these delights came to me

Total exhaustion and some more scary bright pink pee

On the third day of chemo -  these delights came to me

A very queasy tum, total exhaustion, but no more funny pink pee

On the fourth day of chemo -  these delights came to me

Very fuzzy head, one queasy tum, total exhaustion but no more funny pink pee

On the fifth day of chemo -  these delights came to me

A foul tasting mouth, very fuzzy head, queasy tum, total exhaustion but no more funny pink pee

On the sixth day of chemo -  these delights came to me

Dreadful constipation,foul tasting mouth,very fuzzy head,queasy tum,total exhaustion but no more funny pink pee

On the seventh day of chemo -  these delights came to me

Clumps of hair a falling,dreadful constipation,foul tasting mouth,very fuzzy head, queasy tum,total exhaustion but no more funny pink pee

On the eighth day of chemo -  these delights came to me

Skin nerves a jangling,clumps of hair a falling, dreadful constipation,foul tasting mouth,very fuzzy head,queasy tum,total exhaustion but no more funny pink pee

On the ninth day of chemo -  these delights came to me

Needless tears a falling,skin nerves a jangling,clumps of hair a falling,dreadful constipation,foul tasting mouth,very fuzzy head,queasy tum,total exhaustion but no more funny pink pee

On the tenth day of chemo -  these delights came to me

Clumsiness and stumbling,needless tears a fallling,skin nerves a jangling,clumps of hair a falling,dreadful constipation,foul tasting mouth,very fuzzy head,queasy tum,total exhaustion but no more funny pink pee

On the eleventh day of chemo -  these delights came to me

Grumpy bad temper,clumsiness and stumbling,needless tears a falling,skin nerves a janglng,clumps of hair a falling,dreadful constipation,foul tasting mouth,very fuzzy head,queasy tum,total exhaustion but no more funny pink pee

On the twelfth day of chemo - these delights came to me

Blood counts a dropping,grumpy bad temper,clumsiness and stumbling,needless tears a falling,skin nerves a jangling,clumps of hair a falling,dreadful constipation,foul tasting mouth,very fuzzy head,queasy tum,total exhaustion but NO MORE FUNNY PINK PEE

OK, so now it's 4:30 am - I told you I never sleep but tonight was different - tonight I actually saw Santa Clause dropping off gifts next door for my grandkids - now can you beat that!!!

Merry Christmas to all you brave ladies! May 2013 bring us all health, happiness and hair! Cherish the good times and memories with your love bugs! Virtual hugs to all!!



Luvbug - I am sleeping 11 hours a night and only wake up every 2 hours with night sweats. So sorry you can't get any rest.

Lololololol pands so funny I sang it for my family they are still rolling on the floor. Loved It!!! Merry Xmas everybody

Pands - love the poem! Today I have red skin from the chemo or steroids, not sure which... and what about the peeling feet??

Just finished round 3 - fly on christmas day, and got off the plane at 5am boxing day, did blood draw at 8, saw doctor at 10:30 (he was an hour behind, grrr) and done chemo at 3pm. Fell asleep and they left me there, so not sure when it was actually over...!! It was smooth as silk, no allergic reaction this time, which was my boxing day gift. Flying on christmas day will now give me something to be thankful of on all those xmas down the road when I get to stay home and EAT and not fly for chemo:) We (MO and I) talked about radiation today, which made me feel like this is now winding down, even if it is just over the halfway hump. And got the good news that the bleeding around my armpit scar is not anything bad, just a sign of overdoing. So 5lovebugs, yes, the potty is it!!

And then I met some folks travelling from Bangladesh to see my Dr, which was interesting. I asked what kind of cancer the patient had, and her family took me aside and explained they aren't telling her she has cancer... major cultural difference. Can you guys imagine your families meeting the doctors and NOT telling you that you had breast cancer? So interesting... I felt badly for outing her cancer to her, but perhaps it will help her in the long run. We stood and chatted about the stage she/they are at (diagnosis) vs what it feels like post surgery to be in it and moving forward. The drugs made me ruminate on how we all move through that stress, grapple with our questions about why and how and when, and then move on. I am not sure I like calling it a "journey" when it feels more like a forced march, but it is a process and looking back with them was very interesting for me. I realized I am more positive and ok with this than I often feel like I am.

Hope everyone's christmas and boxing days were wonderful. Eleni, I hope TC is easier on you than FEC. Maychen - how was the surprise reunion??

Sickofpink, I was told the lowest immunity days for TC were days 7-10, but if you are on neulasta, that should helps at lot. I am sure you are safe to eat out for dinner. Just wash your hands frequently, keep a six foot radius from anyone with a bacterial or viral infection, and I got this tip from an infectious disease specialist I met in Bangladesh - wash your nose out after outings with a mixture of salt water and baking soda (with a little syringe, leaning your head back so it flows all the way up there) and you should be fine. I think the risk is probably lower than our fears of the risk. I have been paranoid too.. and am now realizing I can do more than I thought I could given my sick kids haven't made me sick... I went on holidays after round 2 with the family, and flew on day 7, ate out daily until we returned home from the holiday on day 18. Eating at home is a lot of work for you, so perhaps more stressful and tiring than a meal out at a nice restaurant??  

Hey Megan and everone, reunion went great. Grands and younger neice and nephew were so surprised. We had wonderful day, but ready to go back. Love the kids so much, but they can get a little rowdy. Love to watch them play. Dd and grands will be flying out to visit next month for my Bday yay!! Not looking forward to ride home, we r bringing my two babies(dogs home with us). They have never traveled that far before sigh. Hope everyone had a Lovely Christmas.

5LuvBugs~I taped that on my DVR last week. I have always been a fan of hers, and I was surprised to hear about her BC. In the past year Sharon Osborn and Kathy Bates also disclosed they had breast cancer in the past year.



Blessings

Paula