January 2013 chemo group

Thank you Lee!  And you've seen it also on your Trader Joe's cauliflower?

Everyone's talking about that wig website, so I just ordered myself a wig from there.  I have a wig that I truly love, but the edges of it are dry now, and the top part at hairline become a little sparse.  I've had it for 10 months and have gotten great use out of it.

I ordered the Javant Lace Front Wig by Vivica Fox.  It is long, no bangs, just like my former hair.  

My question, is, on the site it says to attach lace hairline to head with toupee tape.  Is that what you all are doing?  With my other wig, the boutique cut the lace up to the hair line and I've never had to tape or glue anything to my forehead. Although it does slide around sometimes, is that what I've been missing.  This tape?  LOL

Do you think that I will be able to be cut that lace front?  Gosh, I can't believe the price.  This is crazy.  I spent $239.50 on my last wig and thought that was a good deal. I'm liking this $53.95 price!  It will be a few more months before I can color my hair.  I don't know when to start coloring it.  I wil be 1 year post-treatment April 5th, so wanted to get past that date for sure.

I just finished my vegetables.  A huge bowl of them - it might have been 3 cups or 4 cups.  This was the first time I haven't really enjoyed them.  I think I'm feeling deprived, but I've had too many "rewards" this week, so I will just have to deal with it.

I'm looking forward to an afternoon snack later.  I like the Trader Joe's steel cut oatmeal, and I use 1 little packet of sugar in the raw for sweetness.

In between I will have to do my workout.  I've waiting too long to do it today, it's now 12:30pm.

is anyone doing something special to boost your WBC? I'm a bit freaked out that mine was ao low 1.4. surgery day ir was 5.4. ugh I dont want to postpone a tx or get the neulesta shot.

LeeA I have not tried the claritan. I am taking allegra & benedryl for the nasty rash that I get about 3 days after. I will try the claritan & see if that helps.

I have the Neulasta shot the following day after each chemo. It does sting. but is supposed to keep the wbc up. I guess it's worth it...

Skigirl - I also read that stress tanks your WBC - not sure how, but I read it on three different places and if you can add 30 - 60 minutes of exercise it forces your body to create WBC.  What can it hurt at this point?  Although, they need to shove that stress thing unless they have been in our shoes.  I hope you get your happy pills and that you start to feel better soon.  I'm glad that things are going well at work and I'm sure everyone is soooooo happy to see you.

Ok update on me. My nausea got worse. It was hard to lift my head up unsupported. I drank at least 80 and up to 100 oz of water each day but I guess it wasn't enough i just came back from the hospital for a round of fluids, decadron, and aloxi. I'm about 50% better than when I left. I can handle fatigue. I'm a big old weenie when it comes to nausea.

Mandy, so glad to see that you are back home!  I hope you're feeling better.

Is an option to control the nausea having the meds dripped slower?  I had this done.  Would that help you afterwards any? I remember my Oncologist saying that once nausea starts, our minds will take off from their, and actually create more nausea feeling.  He gave me a prescription that is like a relaxer/anti-nausea in one.  It works by first calming you down, and then that helps keep the nausea at bay.  It is trial and error with each person, and I really hope you find what works best.  Also, sometimes water on an empty stomach can cause more nausea.  Are you eating anything while you are drinking water?  Maybe keep something next to your water, such as Lorna Doone cookies.  They will make you really thirsty, while putting a little cushion into your stomach. 

- chemo nausea

Thanks Debra, my fellow weenie! Haha!



My premeds were emend, aloxi, and decadron. For home I have compazine and zofran. My onc said that, unfortunately, this is going to happen with every treatment so she's gotta figure something out. I feel a lot better. I have a lot of head pain, but I really want to say that's from the decadron. My jaw and skull feel ... I don't know, maybe tender/sore is the best description but not sure if it's strong enough.



Then again, I may not know what I'm talking about. My husband was just on steroids for a severe ear infection and he had the jaw pain I have now. I also googled it like any self respecting google-degreed-doctor.

ROFL!  "Self-respecting Google Degreed Doctor"  .... funny!

Day 3 post chemo for me and like you LeeA, my steroids finished last night and I agree with you that "This is when my body starts feeling like a stranger to me". I hate the first week after treatment. I feel so disconnected. Meditation is impossible and I just lie around like a sloth. How are you ladies exercising in the days straight after treatment? You amaze and inspire me!

My mouth feels like I have eaten a dead rat and I'm on my salt craving mission. No bowel spasms this time but I am chugging back the Miralax like water. My body and brain are not my own. I took the Claratin this time. How many days post treatement do I keep it up for LeeA? I have taken it day before Neulasta and 2 days post. Do I need to keep it going any longer?

Mandy, glad the trip to hospital for fluids has helped your nausea. You're coming out the other side now. I am in the "Oh my God, how am I going to do 4 more of these" phase at the moment. I keep reminding myself that in a week, I will feel OK again. Your skull pain could also be the Neulasta. Apparently bones in the skull produce a lot of bone marrow (as do the breast bones, pelvis and long leg bones).

We are at the beach at my in-laws post this treatment. My new post chemo strategy is that my mother-in-law (who should receive a sainthood when she dies) collects me after my Neulasta shot and brings me to her place at the beach (about and hour from Melbourne) for 2 nights so she can take care of the kids while I veg and my husband works. He then joins me after work on the Friday night.

We went to the beach very early this morning and I swam in the ocean for the first time in ages. I took off my hat and nude-nutted it into the water. It felt so liberating. It's hot here (34 & 36 tmrw) That's 93-96 USA ladies. Floating along in the water was heaven and it's inspired me to plan a beach holiday later in the year once all of this chemo hoo ha is over. There was hardly anyone on the beach at 9am but even if there had been, I really couldn't have cared.

My hair is very sparse. I suspect like yours Oliver Hog - about 10% left. I had to put suncreen on my scalp at the beach. LOL. The sun here in Australia is brutal and skin cancer is not one I want to add to my list! I have very big eyes normally but sans hair they look like saucers!! I have my eyebrows and eyelashes still and wonder if it's the Lumigan I have been using. Skimommi, my Onc had never heard of it either when I asked for the script initially. Perhaps we are pioneering this technology?!! When I have zero lashes and brows at the end of round 6, I might understand why my Onc had never heard of it!

This treatment I have taken Ativan at night and am pleased to see I am not alone. I think it has helped alleviate some of the nausea anxiety which is a plus.

Only one more FEC (red devil) and then onto the Taxotere. I am hoping the nausea is better on the Taxotere. Bryona, I am really excited about FEC # 3 after hearing your woes - NOT! You poor darling. I hope the fog is lifting.

Take care chemo comrades and here's to quick side effect elimination!

J xox

Thanks for telling me about the skull pain possibly being neulasta. They only told me the long bones. I tried searching the boards for where others had their pain but it was a futile search.



My bone pain has been in my shoulder blades, my jaw, my skull, and my hips. No long bones. When Chris put his hands on my shoulders I nearly jumped out of my shoes.

Mandy - my pain was in my hip and my neck. It wasn't terrible, but wasn't comfortable.



Jubby - my one day twin, here's hoping my day 2 and 3 are good and I get past without the nausea. The beach sounds fantastic though and can't say that I'm not jealous since it snowed here today.

 ywheels22 ~ I'm sorry to hear that my posts about my journey with AC are making you anxious!  Let me try to help.

First off, everyone reacts differently.  Your journey with AC might be much easier than mine. I am hopeful that by sharing what I've learned, you might have an easier road.

My best recommendation is to pay close attention to your journey after your 2nd treatment on Wednesday.  Notice carefully any new side effects, and consider calling your MO immediately if anything feels troubling.  To the degree that you can protect things like your stomach, mouth, anus, overall achiness, energy level, mental health etc. you will be more resilient going into your final AC rounds.  Consider asking for medication that can take the edge off any particularly bad times (such as Ativan) and don't hesitate to take it ~~ you want to protect and preserve your resiliency.

My next recommendation is to rest more than you think you need to, drink as much as you possibly can, say "no" to anything and everything that taxes you (that you are able to), surround yourself with good friends and positive people, cultivate a good repertoire of distractions (there has never been a better time to have a Netflix subscription!), and consider spray painting on your wall the words of a good friend of mine: "This is temporary.  Just keep breathing".

You will make it through AC and you will emerge on the other side with your self intact and breast cancer cells decimated.  Don't worry too much about the future.  Find the grace and the possibilities in the present moment.

Most of all, please know that we are all wishing you well.

Where else can we find negative ions?  That is so interesting!

Jubby, what a great image you have painted for us.  I am also loving your M-I-L!

InspiredbyDolce - 

Re: negative ions - here's a link: 

http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/negative-ions-create-positive-vibes

I don't think of myself as a new ager (in the least) but after I felt the lump (and before the biopsy) I ordered a Himalayan salt lamp and put it in the bedroom.  They supposedly generate negative ions.  I think it all started when the acupuncturist I was going to suggested these insanely expensive negative ion pajamas from Japan which I did not order!  

Anyway, waterfalls, seashores - maybe that's why I've come to love Kauai so much?  Well, that and how beautiful the north shore is.  

Re: exercise - I missed four days of it during treatment number two and today wasn't easy.  My shins felt like they were on fire and my miles per hour was really slow (I'm never very fast as it is). 

Also, AC seems to be a completely different animal although my friend who has had a recurrence said she had an easier time with AC than TCH; however, she was five or six years older for the TCH.  It seems like these chemicals react differently in each one of us and even behave differently per treatment in each of us. 

But on the bright side - those two little insect lumps (smaller than a pea - one on each leg) have completely flattened out.  I feel certain it's the chemo.  Plus, my cuticles seem to have stopped growing like they used to do, which is great (just trying to look on the bright side).