January 2013 chemo group

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  • LisaMM
    LisaMM Member Posts: 120
    edited April 2013

    LeeA-"bag of assholes"????  I love it!!!!  I really thought going through all of this would make me a more tolerant person...alas....I think it has had an opposite effect most days.  Maybe it's just the chemo, maybe not.  But I love that, and I will be using it..just in case there are any copyright issues!!!  LOL, you made my day!

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  • Zorina
    Zorina Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2013

    Fighter 69-  I had sticky eyes at times, and I think it as the neulasta.  Maybe not, but it should go away.  Try some saline eye drops.  Tell that MRI that there are a bunch of Buzzing  Bellas that are going to kick it in the shins if it doesn’t start behaving.

    Byrona – A good friend of my mine is bringing her famous coconut cream cake to the chemo lounge for the last treatment.  The big celebration occurs two week after my last treatment:  We’re going to Disney for a long weekend to celebrate my 50th birthday and the end of chemo. 

    NHMom – Love the tonic water idea…I use it for leg cramps and hadn’t even thought about it for Taxol.  So, I have a glass with a squeeze of lime.  I am also trying to pretend there is some gin in the glass. 

    Skimmomi – Graduation day is upon us!  Do we get to have a kegger, a live band and a big cake?   Perhaps, I am passive-aggressive (thanks to a previous employer of 10 years),  but I would probably ask her not to bother shaving her head again after she grows it out for her vacation because there’s no sense in her going through the trauma or effort again.  (Whew, the dexa is probably making me more aggressive and less able to write a good sentence!) 

    Ywheels – How is Taxol #1 treating you?   I am buzzing on post treatment Dexa and Benadryl right now. 

    Smethot – After the next treatment, you’ll be 75 percent complete…but I bet you had already done that math!

    I got some good news today:   I am completely negative for both BRCA 1 and 2. 

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  • Nicole503
    Nicole503 Member Posts: 295
    edited April 2013

    I am DONE with chemotherapy!!!

    I still have the SE slide to do and expect to be feeling pretty actively chemotherapized for another month or so.

    And I will be cheering and celebrating with all of you when you cross this finish line.

    Today is a good day.  Cool

    Zorina ~ Congrats on the BRCA results!  Re: your comment a day ago ~ I feel like a chemotherapy survivor, and a breast cancer conquerer (with a little help from my fabulous surgeon & oncology team army!)

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  • pattithenurse
    pattithenurse Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2013

    DONE!!! What a great word! I'm new to these amazing forums, but I appreciate all your posts. I'm outside of Eugene Nicole...almost neighbors. I have a question for any that may be able to answer. Yesterday I experienced a "heat rash"? Resolved with an oatmeal bath and some Benadryl,but now it appears to just come on for no good reason. It's mainly around my abdomen,involving inner thighs. I take the Benadryl,get some relief,and then magically it starts up again? I had a good case of it during the night. I don't want to call the MD,but maybe I need some prednisone. Anyone else have some thoughts......Thank you to all............

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  • Nicole503
    Nicole503 Member Posts: 295
    edited April 2013

    pattithenurse ~ We are definitely neighbors!!!  2 hours away counts in my book. :)

    You don't have an auto signature so I can't tell if you are doing chemo???  If you are, I would definitely call your MO's office about your rash.

    Good luck!

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  • LeeA
    LeeA Member Posts: 1,660
    edited April 2013

    Congratulations, Nicole!  Happy, happy, joy, joy!  

    And the same goes to you, Zorina - such great news on the BRCA test results!  

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2013

    Thank you all for the words of support as I've ranted and raved here. You are all an amazing group of women. Lee, you have such a way with words and are a true supporter. I love you even more for that. Nancy posted a link on FB for the "Live Sincerely" site. For those of you not on FB you should check it out. I'm still trying to get through all the posts, but it has made me reallly stop to think about what living sincerely means and how I can learn and live for it more.

    On another note, here is another reason the Big C sucks ass (not that we really need another reason). Others have posted similar stories, but I have to share this one.  My neighbor works with a young, 29 year old lady that was just diagnosed. She found the lump herself. Here is the kicker. She was just married a year ago. She has been on fertility drugs and the day she went for her mammo what is standard protocol?? They asked if there was any chance she could be pregnant and she said likely not. But, the standard is to have the preggo test anyways and guess what?? Yes, she learned on the same day she had cancer and was pregnant. It just totally sucks!!

    On a lighter note, Shannon I think that is historically the shortest post by you ever. ;)

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  • LeeA
    LeeA Member Posts: 1,660
    edited April 2013

    Good grief regarding the 29 year old who found out joyful and sorrowful news all in one fell swoop.  Bless her heart.  As if being a new mother isn't challenging enough...

    When I was in my twenties I don't recall knowing anyone who had breast cancer - and I'm sure I would have remembered.  As Holly/kiwikid has said - her onco nurse said when she first started in the field a woman diagnosed in her early sixties was considered YOUNG for breast cancer (sitting here shaking my head). 

    skimommi, regarding your friend, it saddens me to think that you're going through all this and at the same time - have to take the time/emotional energy to jump through weird hoops.  That aside, just two more weeks and you'll be dancing it out!    

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  • pattithenurse
    pattithenurse Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2013

    Thanks Nicole......i guess i better call,the weekend is too long.Golly,i wish I knew how to put this information in. Stage 2 Grade 3 invasive to one node. Lumpectomy,node dissection.Cocktail of Cytoxan,Taxotere.I thought I might feel a wee bit stronger before next week's dose,but....this rash,taking benadryl,is wearing me out. Guess I need to call.....Hate to bug them.Wishing all of you the VERY BEST!

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  • LeeA
    LeeA Member Posts: 1,660
    edited April 2013

    pattithenurse, if you want to add information to your signature go to the top of the page and hit "My Profile" and then select the tabs "My Diagnoses" and "My Treatments."  You'll need to change the setting from private to public (there's an option to the right). 

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  • Jubby
    Jubby Member Posts: 85
    edited April 2013

    Yay Zorina and Nicole!!! Happy dance to you both.  A wee bit jealous when I read about chemo conclusions.  Wed 8 May for me.  Bring it on!!!!!  Can't come soon enough.

    I am with Zorina. Skimmomi – I'd kindly tell your friend not to shave her head again.  This is your path and yours alone.  She doesn’t understand it and as well intentioned as she is, playing dress-ups with you is never going to give her a taste of it.  May she never walk in our shoes.

    Keep us posed on your Taxol journey Shannon.  Hope it’s a breeze for you.

    Cancernoway, no colon?  Holy shit Batman. Kinda redefines the benefits of probiotics!  Hope you knock that thrush for a six without them. 

    Have a great weekend all. 

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  • smethot
    smethot Member Posts: 161
    edited April 2013

    Shortest post ever...funny...and true!   Seeif i can rectify that.

    Zorina and Nicole and Skimommi sooooooo happy for you- DONE (or damned close to it) must feel soooooooo good.  41 days for me...May 16th finish (KOW)...but i'm actually a Feb chemo start so the majority of you are ahead of me...

    Taxol #1 was fine & dandy.  The pre- and post-meds are way less, only dex and kytril (if i need it- not so far) and my bag 'o benadryl & pepcid...nifty!.  However, the dex dose is higher than on AC and i was up ALL FREAKING NIGHT last night...got maybe 4 hrs sleep...and this from the woman who complains at 8 hrs and is still grumpy after 10 hrs sleep...brutal.  I am so gonna crash sometime today...the dex is done...hubby will come home and fnd me face down on my computer...snoring.  Good thing is, i sat in bed awake last night and planned out an entire presentation i have to make to my GM and directors on Monday so hey, at least i USED my sleepless time...right???  There has to be a good side to sleeplesness.  So NEXT round, i'm taking gravol before bed (and again during the night on one of my myriad pee breaks) so i can sleep.  Shannons pretty much suck without sleep. 

    Other than that, waiting on my super-fun Neulasta shot today and the kids for the weekend...woo hoo.  When the kids are here, my toilets get SPARKLING CLEAN.  We have a rule- before you leave to go back to your mom's on Sunday, you each must clean a toilet.  I DO NOT PEE DOWN THEN SIDE OF THE TOILET and YOUR DAD DOES NOT PEE DOWN THE SIDE OF THE TOILET.  Its only when beavis & butthead are here that my toilets turn into pee lake.  And the little rat-bastards WILL NOT wipe up after themselves...even though wipes are readily available on the back of the FREAKING TOILET!!!  I understand boys/men miss- fact of life- but for the love of god man, wipe up your backsplash or complete mess.  You can't just LEAVE that there!!!!  Eeeuuuwww!!!  We've been trying to get the boys to wipe up after themsleves for YEARS- literally years- no go. Their mom is a cleaning freak and MORE than happy to clean up after her little men...who are almost 13 & 15...its her duty and privilege in life.  Their dad & i...not so much.  So we have THE RULE.  You must each clean a toilet to "eat off of it kinda clean" before you go back to your mom's on Sunday.  No more constant bitching and finger-pointing about WHO demo'ed my toilets and clean toilets out of the deal, too.  Some things girls have over boys in a BIG way!!!  

    Ok- toilet rant over...back up to normal length post- have a good one, Ladies!  xoxoxox Shannon

    p.s.  Manda- you still out there???

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  • Skigirl72
    Skigirl72 Member Posts: 478
    edited April 2013

    Congrats Shannon!! I feel energized (well mentally anyway) that I have started my Taxol trip. I feels like this 12 weeks is going to fly right on by!!

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  • Fighter69
    Fighter69 Member Posts: 55
    edited April 2013

    Hi Bryona , 

    The Machine I was told wont be fixed for at least a week . Now I am just in wait like always . Zorina and Nicole that is wonderful news!! It has made my entire week that there is hope for us all . Zorina , hopefully the MRI gods will get that darn thing working soon . 

    Hope everyone is feeling good this week .

    Fighter

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2013

    Pattithenurse - i've been struggling with horrible taxotere hives since the second treatment.  The steriods worked on #2 but didn't seem to stick with #3.  On #4 i started claritan/zantac daily (weird combo but prescribed by my MO) and did acupunture.  I only had a mild rash crop up here and there.  I cannot say if it's the acupuncture or drugs...but whatever it was I'll take it!

    Good luck to you!

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  • ywheels22
    ywheels22 Member Posts: 230
    edited April 2013

    Lee: ditto to everything you said. Very well said too!

    Smethot: I am one day ahead of you....who is counting, 41 days to go!!!!! How are you feeling on your first Taxol? I am very tired, kinda groggy feeling and a bit achey. Taste buds were shot Thursday (day2) but seem okay today (day3). Hope you are doing well!

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  • ywheels22
    ywheels22 Member Posts: 230
    edited April 2013

    Zorina: congrats on your BRCA! That is great news! I am day 3 right now as Taxol was WEdnesday. I felt fine on Thursday, just yucky ass mouth taste. A slight touch of nausea so I took a Zofran Thursday a.m. and p.m., per my nurse's instructions. She said just take it even if I didn't feel anything. I love my nurse.

    Day 3, today, I feel very tired and groggy-like. A bit achey throughout the whole body but not too bad. I have slept very well. I don't seem to have the problems with not sleeping most nights. I just feel very 'heavy', like I am carrying a huge load on my body. It is not a bad feeling but well, just a very tired feeling. I'm babbling!!!!!

    I wonder if this is it or will it get worse or be better by tomorrow? I hate being anxious about the unknown. Three more to go and I hope and pray that each treatment doesn't get worse. I hope it is about the same....We can hope right?

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  • Italflamingo
    Italflamingo Member Posts: 9
    edited April 2013

    Hi everyone.

    I haven't posted forever. I just finished 2 cycles of chemo. I have my surgery scheduled for april 25th for double mastectomy with expanders in. I have been so though & positive but not mentally strong today or yesterday. There's a 95% chance more chemo after surgery a combo of carbo-taxotere-herceptin 6 doses every 21 days. Then 5-6 wks of radiation. anybody else out there have this schedule or drugs?

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  • hope49
    hope49 Member Posts: 370
    edited April 2013

    Nicole and Zorina - congratulations!!! Zorina, when you go to Disneyland, be sure to stop by City Hall and get a birthday button - you'll get a lot of wishes that will make you feel special all day.  

    Lee, what you said about time standing still reminded me of a quote I had put on the back of my running shirt for a 1/2 marathon "Life is short...running makes it seem longer"...I think we can subsittue in chemo!

    I've missed a couple of days and there was a lot to catch up on - I hope you are all doing well and have a great weekend!  And for those not there yet, consider joining us on FaceBook, we're having a great time over there! :)

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  • ywheels22
    ywheels22 Member Posts: 230
    edited April 2013

    How do you get on the Facebook page ya'll are on?

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  • pattithenurse
    pattithenurse Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2013

    THANK YOU Jules! I'm taking alot of comfort in sharing these weird effects and emotions. I haven't had a rash since last evening! I don't sweat,and I was outside doing yardwork. I had no idea what this rash was all about,and I ended taking about 4 Benadryl throughout the last couple of days. KNOCK ON WOOD!!I did take a nice oatmeal bath,which relieved an anxiety rash a couple of weeks ago!Seems like I spend alot of time checking in on my body for every little thing........BORING!!! Wishing you ALL the best today......I enjoy coming to these forums......

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  • pattithenurse
    pattithenurse Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2013

    I'd be interested too about facebook. Thanks for sharing!

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  • smethot
    smethot Member Posts: 161
    edited April 2013

    YWheels- we're like chemo buddies...my first T was fine and i feel totally normal- for me.  Aside from being bald, i've had very little in the way of SE's...aside from not sleeping last night- and i'm all over the Gravol for next time.  However, I think i may have less SE's due to 2 factors- i extremely OVER hydrate (3- 4 litres a day for 4 days) and I have a pre-existing injury from a car accident that happened when i was 16.  I came out of that with major nerve damage- pain, headaches, dead spots and its cascaded from right side to left side over the last 25 years...but you get used to it.  Long term pain management really does work and quite frankly, i never know if the headache i have is a SE from chemo or just my life.  Pain in my neck or arm or back?  Normal for me.  Swelling...ditto.  Arthritis pain...uh huh.  Maybe i do have SE's...i just don't equate them to anything but the way i usually live.  Now i haven't had ass mouth or sores...but i am in chemo-pause- i was considering taking the veggies seeds i've planted to bed with me to provide them with heat and moisture instead of a greenhouse- but other than that...nada that i don't deal with every day.  I'm dose dense so my Neulasta is up today and that'll increase my heartbeat for a day or so and make me feel like i'm first day coming down with the flu-achey but no real stress.  Overall...i find the picc line in my arm more of a pain in the ass than the chemo...aside from the bald...i am SOOOOOO done with the bald.  And then the damned nurse tells me yesterday that i may lose the rest of my hair on my T...PISS OFF!!!  Wants me thick, blond hair back...my head is freezing!!!  I look like an egg...i want to look like a chia-pet...bring on the hair...its really the only thing total crap for me about this whole deal...41 days!!!!

    xoxoxox Shan

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  • jocanuck1951
    jocanuck1951 Member Posts: 1,003
    edited April 2013

    Toooooo funny smethot! I know what Humpty Dumpty feels like now too, lolol!

    Chia-pet lol!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2013

    If any of you want to join us on the private site on Facebook, friend Debbie Inzana or Bryona Golding. They will get you in. No one else on Facebook can see anything that you post on the Bellas board.



    Paula

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  • ywheels22
    ywheels22 Member Posts: 230
    edited April 2013

    Smethot: you are too funny! I have minion hair and still have brows and lashes, which I am desperately praying they stay. My nurse said they may since they are still here through 4 AC's but most have said they fall out at some point, even after chemo. No mouth sores but I have ass sores! They are getting better, or should I say smaller! Taking Senecot S for constipation and I'm not taking pain killers as I don't need that Nuelasta shot through Taxol (as long as my counts stay good.) the constipation is improving. I don't get the shot but you are. Interesting how some of this is different. Good luck!

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  • SherylB
    SherylB Member Posts: 450
    edited April 2013

    Hey all,

    I just want to second the idea for Facebook it is really  fun because we post pics and sayings. As said above friend Debbie Inzana or Bryona Golding.

    Hugs, Sheryl

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  • Rhonda2
    Rhonda2 Member Posts: 133
    edited April 2013

    I have a really weird rash too. I don't know what is causing it, but it moves around from one week to the next. I just try to keep those areas clean and dry and so far it's working. I didn't have it too bad until after treatment number 3, then the fun began...not! I also have all this extra weight and puffiness from the steroids. I know it will come off after treatment, but man, it looks awful.

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  • Zorina
    Zorina Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2013

    Just sent a FB friend request...Zorina aka Jayne.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2013

    Zorina.....Way Cool!!! It will be great to have you join the Bellas!



    Paula

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