January 2013 chemo group

Hi Brandie, hoping you don't have to go through chemo but if you do know that we are all here for you. I am just starting my chemo on Monday. It is helping to read what the ladies here have to say. Thank you for your prayers. We will be praying for you also. Colleen

Hi Ladies...i'm a Feb 2013 Chemo and have been lurking here, gather intelligence on what's to come.  Just wanted to say i enjoy this thread (as much as one can enjoy anything bc related) and thank you for your continued strength and humour (especially Bryona's crack monkey).  Pls feel free to pop into the Feb chemo thread- your experience, info and suggestions would be very welcome.  And thanks...  Here's to chemical warfare...death to cellular insurgents.  Shannon

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  Welcome to the familly, Tammi and Giraffe...you came to the right place as this is a wondefrul group that has helped me more than I can express.

skimommi, it's interesting what you mention about taste and vinegar...everything tasted so salty to me at first and then I started back on taking apple cider vinegar every day to help me just in general, but now that I think about it, my taste also started to retrun at that point, so russell, it's worth a try.  I mix 1-2 T of organic, raw ACV into a small glass of water and chug it.  Not very tasty but it's good for so many things.

Bryona - so glad to see you back with us and feeling a little more like yourself!

I know I am a bit late weighing in on the food ideas but as I was struggling to find something I wanted to eat my DH bought me several cans of Campbell's Chunky soups. I steamed up frozen veggies and mixed into the soup and then poured over whole grain noodles...I subsided on that for days, and it helped with both calories and protein as I was starting to lose weight.  Normally I would steer clear of a salty canned soup, but it was a godsend and easy to mix up, just healthy it up with the veggies.  I will also admit to going the Taco Bell route one day as it was all that I could think of...didn't taste as good as I was hoping, but at least i was able to eat that day.  I'll try the fish sandwich next time around!

Amrdbit, hope all is going well...just remember we have an average of 100,000 hairs on our head with an average shed of 50-100 per day, so while some will still fall, I know you'll do great with the caps!  We just need to keep more than we lose  LOL!

Hope all you Wednesday lounge ladies do well today!

Sorry my post came out in a big blob. Don't know what happened! :-/

Skimommi- Love the new picture!  I have no idea what to do with this stubble on my head. It's getting blotchy and i find myself just pulling it out. I would think that the duct tape thing would work. lol. sounds a little harsh though. My son thinks we should try it. He is still giggling.

Tammi- Good luck tomorrow! Remember, Stay with the meds and stay hydrated. They dont want you to have bad SEs. So I listened to my body and I had a dry erase board to keep track of what I took and when. I was dead on with the timing of all the anti nausea meds. I never missed one and I had very few problems. Certainly nothing that kept me in bed and unable to care for myself.

Fighter69- I cant do anything without coffee first thing in the morning. I have cut way back. I know caffeine dehydrates you and that's the only reason they gave me as to why I should cut back. So, I am def hydrating enough with 3 litres of water daily. I can afford a coffee. lol

Paula- Feel better and get home soon! I'm praying for you.

Bryona- Welcome back from the fog. It's tough not being able to focus and feel do disconnected.

Nikkiliz- you said the magic word -parsnips- we love them and I have copied your recipe. oh and I have found a new craving. it's broccoli. I have hated broccoli since I was 5 and now I cant get enough. weird.

This week I have been busy. I've packed all the appts in this week so I can hibernate for the next few weeks following TX#2. I saw my PS this morning and he is happy with the way my reconstruction is settling. It does not look like my right one yet but I can see how it will a few months from now. So, good news from him. So, now it's just the MO for a while. It's takes some organizing to keep all the DRs straight.

Friday I am going to ask if I can go back to work part time. I hope she says yes. I love my job and I miss the fast paced world of bartending. If she says no then oh well... bummer. I'm going to have the cleanest house on the street.

 And YES... smethot- Here's to chemical warfare... death to cellular insurgents! Well stated... I might have to borrow that statement.

Skigirl- a) I put a request to you on FB b) Parsnips are SO underrated! (as are turnips and beets-but i digress). c)Broccoli is awesome! Try it roasted... :-)



LeeA- hope happy hour is going well! I take that particular red devil you saw except in push form which looks like they are pumping Hawaiian Punch into your port. Its bizarre.

Brocolli with ginger is also really good. We buy the chopped/frozen ginger at Trader Joe's. Our local Chinese restaurant serves an excellent ginger brocolli.

I totally have a new respect for the bald man...

HI Ladies--Just thought I would pop in to let you all know I am thinking of you.  I celebrated my one year "cancerversary" today and am here to tell you:  YOU WILL GET THROUGH it.  I don't know how I would have gotten through it had it not been for these threads.  The support I received has been unbelievable and have met some great friends.  I go for my one-year mammo tomorrow and meet with my BS on Friday.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

If there's anything I can do for you ladies, please feel free to reach out to me.  XOXO Karen

hope, I think Adriamycin is red because the microbe it's derived from is red. I don't think they add any pigment to it; it's just naturally that color. Although of course I use the word "naturally" loosely!

I just consulted Dr. Google and saw this: 

If the dose of Adriamycin that you are being given is very thick, it may be given as a "push" injection, rather than through an intravenous drip. This red fluid drug will be delivered in a large plastic syringe, which will be attached to your catheter tubing, and your infusion nurse will slowly depress the plunger manually, to inject the Adriamycin into your vein.  

http://breastcancer.about.com/od/chemotherapydrugs/p/adriamycin.htm

Hi ladies



I just wanted to pop in and say hi. It looks like chemo for me but not sure when. I've been so terrified about it i wake up sweating. I feel like I won't be able to do it or run out of the chemo room. Did all of you feel this way. How do your kids react to all this. I have three under 10 6 6. I will probably be doing mine in February but don't know how I can get thru it. It's been a worry of mine from the start and now I have to have it. My appointment is next week. Did everyone on here have a port? I really don't want to have one. I don't want another surgery. I'm so petrified about chemo and just upset. It's always on my mind. The hair is another big concern. I just don't know if I can handle having frozen scalp from cold caps.



Sorry Ramble just worried

Fighter69:  What is the prescription for Vitamin D3 called?  I too had a low Vitamin D3, but my PCP just told me to start taking 2,000 units of it a day.  

Hi Everyone !!  You all have been very busy on here today, and I'm still trying to catch up and see what I have missed.  )

chgogemini......Dang,  I was sending you a reply and my computer decided to erase all that I wrote!   Don't be afraid...You can do this! I think you may decide you DO want a port, otherwise your veins are going to get ruined and then forever when you need to get any lab work or whatever, it will be very hard for the tech to get a vein and you will have to be stuck a few times...a port will save your veins and can be removed after chemo is finished, there ya go! As far as your hair, you can get a wig (I don't want one), or get your hair cut now, and keep getting it cut and then buzzed short so your kids and family and friends etc get used to it.  I  have a friend who just finished chemo and lost all her hair.  She got a few different cute and funny baseball caps, and she looks cute in them!  She used to have a  fine head of hair, and will again, it's not permanent.  The side effects are managable for the most part, and as women we probably have endured a lot more crap and aggrevation and pain than we ever wanted to and have come through it all with flying colors, or at least with colors.  Don't let fear get the best of you. Then you have to worry about the chemo for weeks before you even do it and you don't even know if it is going to be that bad for you!  I haven't done my chemo yet, but I've had to endure a lot of other things in my 66 years, and I know I didn't want a lot of them, but all I am now is stronger for all of my experiences.  I feel your apprehension and your fear in your post.  You will be fine.  Keep checking this forum and get all the encouragement you can from these wonderful women!  Also some good coping ideas too!  Sue

Oh, chgogemini, big gentle hugs for you. I know this is scary. It's completely normal to be afraid, but I'm pretty sure the fear is far worse than the chemo itself. You can do this. You really, really can. It probably won't be the most fun you've ever had, but you'll come through the other side and be around for those beautiful children for a long, long time. The drugs they give us to help with side effects are pretty amazing; it's not like chemo in the movies. Take a deep breath, and then another one. And if that doesn't work, I know some of us on this thread are big fans of Ativan for relieving some anxiety when it becomes overwhelming. And remember, there are lots of women on these boards who are here for you and understand what you're going through.

Nicole, safe journeys on the next leg of your ride.

Inspired, my PCP gave me a perscription for Vitamin D, also. There are dosages that require a perscription, but in my case it was a lower dose (1000 IU pills)-- the script just meant I could use my FSA for it. Ah, the good old days, when I had $ in my FSA...