Calling all TNs

I forgot to ask this but maybe it needs its own section.

What kind of deodorant do you all use?   I have tried so many of the ones without the aluminum but they don't work.   For awhile I just said it is not worth stinking........but now that mine has returned and spread up the lymphs I am wanting to try to change again.  I have paid $8 for one and it still don't work.    I found one that semi worked but had its own smell.  

I WILL NOT STINK........;)

Jlh,



I did not have nausea with AC. I had a hard time with it otherwise, mostly low white blood cell counts/infections, which should not affect your wife since it looks like she is not having dose-dense. I had AC every two weeks. I did not have a problem with taxol except some numbness in feet, (neuropathy).



Below is the drug schedule I was given, in part to prevent nausea:



During AC, my prescribed schedule was:

Miralax the day before chemo

Emend the day of chemo

Aloxi and Decadron via port, with the chemo

Emend, Decadron and Miralax in the two days after chemo  

Compazine and Ativan to take as needed at home. I rarely needed them.



During Taxol, my prescribed schedule was:

Decadron and Miralax the day before chemo

Decadron and Zofran the day of chemo

Pepcid and Benadryl via port, with the chemo (these help prevent an allergic reaction)

Miralax in the days after chemo

Zofran, Compazine, and Ativan to take as needed at home

Evening - I've been away for awhile, life you know!  Sending hugs to all of those experiencing reoccurances, cancer truely sucks.

Shirley don't let them bother you.........be comfortable.....:)

My thoughts and prayers are with you...........glad you got the Taxol over with (that pain was bad for me) and good luck on the radiation.   I will be doing that soon too

I have read a few comments recently about drinking lots of water.  I love water and drink little else normally besides my morning coffee (no juice, no pop, etc.).  However, during my chemo water tasted awful (as did any form of alcohol, wine, etc.)!  I absolutely could not drink it.  However, I did acquire a craving for chocolate milk and I was only able to stay hydrated with that.  I tried various other beverages, but all were either nauseating or just had a weird taste.  Choco milk was my friend.  I chugged it!  In fact, I would panic if my supply of milk and Nestle Quick got low (kind of reminded me of my way back in the day pregnancy cravings for grapefruit juice, but that's another story!).  I remember one day one of my sweet co-workers ran out to buy some chocolate milk for me because I ran out of choco milk at work and I was sooo thirsty!  I normally do not have a sweet tooth at all, but blandish sweet things worked for me during chemo - vanilla pudding, vanilla ice cream, cream of wheat, oatmeal; also mashed potatoes, ramen, and pasta.  Anything "whitish" was very tasty!

Pizza tasted like metal, and generally anything with tomato sauce was nasty.

Everyone is different, but I wanted to share what worked for me with those of you going through this now.

I'll be off the boards for a few weeks, going on vacation to California.  We'll be visiting our son who just got out of his 4 year stint in the Marine Corps and attending his wife's graduation from law school.  Also, sadly, visiting my sister in law in San Diego who was diagnosed in March with stage 3 ovarian cancer.  My mom died of ovarian cancer in 1993 and it seems like there has not been much progress with this disease.  As awful as TN BC is, I feel so fortunate that so much progress has occurred with our treatments.

Sorry to be so verbose.  I assume if too long or you're not interested you have not gotten this far

Grammy...I found that true as well! Rarely wear it now.

5thsib Im so sorry ! Im sure that was hard

Tazzy, I understand ! One of my friends who lives wayy far away wants to come "help" me, but since shes so far she will have to stay for a good long time. Anddd Im feeling that I wont want her here that long lol

Regarding deoderant, is there something I dont know? is this an issue?

This is my last prechemo weekend. Am going out tonight to listen to some local bands at my local neighborhood bar and I plan on having a GREAT time ! Then the rest of the weekend will be preparing... With a bright spot of my future DIL wants me to come to the bridal shop late Sat afternoon.  The wedding is July 19th, the day after my 2nd cycle of Taxol. I really hope I will be able to attend.

Have great Friday everyone !

Hi to you too Wren.....

Grammy....different chemo gave me different tastes.  Right now everything tastes buttery, including water.  The craving for "white" foods is pretty common, according to my doc.  His theory, eat what you can when you can especially if you have limited appetite.  I do like your chocolate milk craving.  That's what I'm talking about.  Have fun on your vacation.

I too have not needed to use deodorant, or a razor for that matter.  Things I don't miss at all.

Have a great day everyone.......Love to you all........d

Hi terrylin,



You've got the exactly same type of cancer as my wife's..



We were also told on april 10th, 2013 as well!!



However, we have been told to do chemo first then surgery.



Did you make the decision to have surgery first or your surgeon make that?



Yeah, I totally know how you feel... We are supposed to be in Hawaii for our 10th yr wedding anni now..... Oh well, 11th yr wedding anni next yr! That's our goal!



Let's keep in touch!

Terrilynn - welcome.  WE are here for you!

Gilly- thanks for noting that! What a wonderful thread we have here- many thanks to Titan for starting it!

Welcome to all the newbies. I know this is the last place you really want to be, but you will not find a more caring, supportive and knowledgable group of ladies! Remember- no question is too personal or stupid to ask!!

I don't normally do this with people I don't really know but I need to vent.   I let some of this out but some I hold in.    2013 has sucked for my family.    I am mad as hell and about to break.   There is part of me that says why be mad it won't change anything but there is part of me that wants to go on a mountain top and SCREAM until my body can't scream anymore.   I lost my dad, my aunt and my beloved 16 year old furbaby.   Had cancer surgery done on my other girl and now she has been acting a bit off on certain days and of course I fear the big C..... 
My cancer returned and my brother is going to have to have open heart surgery......:(   My hubby is not being as supportive as he was the first go around and I am scared..........I am scared to death.   I am scared of death.   I am just not sure how much more I can take.   I am ready for the gray cloud to leave my family.   No, we are no better thay anyone else but enough is enough.   Hubby has lost two uncles and we are just tired of DEATH!!! 
I find myself getting more and more consumed with the thought and I know that is not good for me.   I keep saying to myself.........you are still here and be thankful for that.   I am but then that evil thought starts again.
I am MAD!!!.............I am mad at the situation, I am mad at myself and I am mad at all the people who have once again scattered upon my diagnoses.   People treat us like we have snubbed toe.....I think it is because so many people now days have cancer that people think, oh she will be fine, it is just cancer and they will treat it and she will be fine.   Well, you know what I HOPE THAT IS THE CASE, but you all know we have lost to many on this list alone.    I guess I just get tired and hurt at the fact that people act like I have a cold.....not sure if I don't matter enough to them or I matter to much and they can't handle it.   Either way it hurts and I feel so alone.   Even people who have fought the battle and won (as of now) offer no support.   Am I just a reminder to them that it can happen to them as well.   I am sorry to air this with so many newbies but they too will endure these feelings sooner of later.   I hate that I am having them but damn it to hell I am HUMAN, I have feelings.  I feel like I am all alone in this this time.   Ok, maybe I will end my pity-party but not sure.   Thanks for letting me vent.   I am just mad at this whole situation and being agoraphobic does not help because I am yet again being forced to face fears.   I am mad because I won't make myself lose weight that I need too.   What is wrong with me.   I always thought, that if a doctor told me I had to do it to save my life I would be able to do it.   I have not.    Who knows maybe if I had made some changes I would have not full blown cancer that spread....who knows I could be skinny as a rail and still fighting it.   One never knows and that is the sad thing with cancer we are damned if we do and damned if we don't.    I hate it.....no right or wrong answers.  Pardon my language as I try not to use bad language but again I am just mad...........(should not let it get to me)

Hi everyone,

Is anyone "older" on this thread or have other health issues and been through chemo?  We have 5 days to decide if mom will be getting it.

My mom had a stroke last June. She is 73 and, before the stroke, was fully independent- tennis, babysitting, bike-riding, etc.  Now, I am her live-in caregiver.  She walks with assistance and has difficulty communicating/speaking but is able to understand us more and more.  She goes to physical, occupational and speech therapy.  She had a lumpectomy in April and is triple negative, Grade 3, 2.7 cm.

The MO said his biggest concern is her being able to communicate how she feels.  Abstract things are difficult to explain- like, numbness and tingling.  Dizzy and nauseous I've been able to communicate through gestures but who knows what she might be feeling with chemo and not be able to tell us accurately.

She has really thick hair that all her shower aides have complimented her on.  I know she really identifies with it.  I also know that her sister will lecture me on putting my mom through this if we decide to do it.  Her sister (whose son died of cancer) thought getting a biopsy was a bad idea- "that some people just live with it."   I drew pictures for my mom for her to choose lumpectomy/mastectomy.   I will certainly talk to my mom more about it but ultimately my brother and I will be deciding/influencing.

My fear of course is if one of the rare side effects happens or some terrible infection or complication.  On one hand, she is just getting back on a consistent therapy schedule after some medication side effect issues so it is difficult to think about another detour, and we have been looking forward to enjoying summer activities and taking a trip.  On the other hand, I know that chemo is her best defense for the future.  The MO said some people choose quality of life and skip chemo (though he says it will be beneficial and recommends it for mom.)   I should've asked- that's a few months quality of life, right?

She would get Taxotere (docetaxel) and cyclophosphamide.  Skipping the anthra....drug due to risk of heart damage.

Sorry for the long post.  Any comments?

StupidBoob -- You have been through so much in such a short time -- don't worry about venting here to us. We get it. I am praying for a ray of sonshine to come your way soon to cheer you up. Don't beat yourself up too much on the weight issue -- I weighted 114, exercised every day, ate well most of the time. I still got it. I can relate to people thinking, "oh, it's just breast cancer, that is so curable today." Well try having it and seeing if you ever again say "oh it's just breast cancer." I'm fine with someone who's been there telling me that I can make it through the treatments and things like that because I know they know and understand. I have a friend people would not recognize if they saw her without her makeup. When I told her I was losing my eyelashes and eyebrows, she said, "oh that's not so bad, they will grow back." I wanted to scream at her, "let it happen to you and see if you still think that." She sells Mary Kay. What I needed from her at that moment was to give me some sympathy and offer to help me with some makeup ideas. Oh well, now I'm starting to rant.

Liz1973 -- so sorry this has happened to you along with your other health issues. Most of the time if you have a mastectomy you don't have to have radiation (not always the case if lymph nodes are involved). Talk to your doctor. That might be the safest route for you. This is a wonderful forum. It has been such a blessing to me.

Regbeach -- wish I could offer some help. What a tough spot to be in. I can offer prayers as you make your decisions. Maybe getting a second opinion will help with your decision. You can always stop treatments at any time if they become too much for your mom.

When I went for my radiation test run Friday, my RO told me that she just was not comfortable with doing the treatment at that facility (they are replacing some of their machines and they are down to one machine). She was afraid that we would be having to take too many breaks because of burning and irritation. So, I'll have to go to a clinic in a city a little further away. It's really not that much more driving time -- maybe 40 minutes compared to 25 minutes, but more traffic to deal with. They sent me on over there Friday afternoon to have my markings redone and I'll start treatments on Tuesday instead of Monday. At least I'll still have my same RO. I really do like her.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.