April 2013 Chemo Group

OK ladies, Here's your laugh for today. When I heard this on Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac,I had to look it up. He was reading a list of what Lewis and Clark took with them on their journey.

"Chief among the medicines was 50 dozen Dr. Rush's patented pills (also known as 'Thunderclappers'). The pills that Dr. Rush refers to were concocted by him as a means of purging the system. Author Steven Ambrose in Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West wrote: "Dr. Rush thought these pills would cure any number of ills. The pills were composed of calomel (a mixture of six parts mercury to one part chlorine), and jalap (eds note: jalapeno is a form of jalap). Each portion of the concoction was a purgative of explosive power...the combination was awesome." Dr. Rush suggested that if one pill didn't do the trick, you could take two or three."

From http://lewisandclarktrail.com/medical.htm

"Thunderclapper pills." They really knew how to promote a product in those days. With all mercury, chlorine, and jalapenos, I don't doubt the effects were explosive!I didn't see any information about whether or not the patients survived the treatment.

RockerMom: Hooray #2 done. Hope the SEs are mild. Mine haven't been as bad with #2.

Pamela:  Love the Lewis & Clark medical info.  Thanks for posting.

Chemo went as expected today. No problems. I mostly slept through it.

Got a question for you all about hugs. Normally, I love to get hugs. Of course, things are far from normal at the moment. I have several big events coming up in the next month where everyone I know will be wanting to hug me. I have found that even people who know I am having chemo come up and hug me whenever they see me.

I need to find a graceful way to refuse hugs without seeming off-putting or launching into a complicated explanation. I considered putting a "no hugs, I'm doing chemo" sign on my shirt, but probably people wouldn't read it anyway. Any suggestions on what works for you?

I'm also wondering how picky I should be about this. Should I reject all hugs, or screen people before the hugs to weed out the sick ones (which is still taking a chance because healthy people are contagious days before showing symptoms)?

I would just stay home, but these are important events for our community and my family.

By the way, the other day I saw someone I haven't seen in a while who didn't know about the BC. He complimented me on my new look with hat the and scarf. I figured I'd better let him know (those are always hard conversations to have). He said that he wondered about chemo when he saw the new look. I have been wondering if people think that; I guess no amount of frills covers up such a drastic change. I suspect anyone looking at me must think "Chemo?"

PamelaKay, I decided not to worry about hugs... I just try to remember to use hand sanitizer when possible. My biggest problem with hugs is breast pain... the left still hurts due to the port placement. The right began hurting because of chemo burns... so... as much as I need the healing touch, it is still painful. I think I'd prefer a hug to a handshake... they scare me!

Me... I'm "sanitizer challenged", and also "sunscreen challenged" -- I've always avoided the use of sanitizer and antibacterial stuff (except for dish soap). So, stocked up, but still don't use it like I should. Sunscreen? I hate it, it makes me break out! I am making myself wear it now, but don't like it. I've always worn it for extended periods in the sun, but not for everyday.

Maybe I should use sunscreen like hand lotion... chemo seems to play havoc on my skin!

Hugs.. I have hugged clients goodbye and a couple friends here and there but I made sure they weren't the least bit sick before I have done so. So far so good. But it hasn't been that many people really. I'm laying LOW I don't have pain because I don't have anything to bump against but I haven't hugged with my port yet and I don't plan on it until I'm healed.

Hand Sanitizer... I have always been against it.
I've always been the opposite of a germaphobe and I never get sick but now I am using it constantly. 
I absolutely refuse to pick up a virus after what I went through with my first chemo. I'm being SUPER careful and wearing masks in public.

This Sunday I have an event that I cannot miss. There will be children and adults there. My son is playing a show and I have to be there.
I will wear a mask, have sanitizer and TRY to stay away from people but this will be the first time I see a lot of people that I haven't seen since I "came out" with my BC in January. I really don't want to be bothered but I will deal with it. Hopefully my steroids will talk for me

Port... the port itself isn't bothering me but the incision further up the neck is. I suppose that's because I bend more there.

I hope everyone is feeling ok today!

Has chemopause begun?  I can only hope so.  I had about 3 weeks of spotting and then nothing, and now I'm 3 days late (trust me when I tell you that I'm not pregnant).  This would be the one positive of this whole adventure.

Indenial, I'm sorry you're having such a tough time of it. I admire your courage to continue.  I hear determination in your writing.  While I know it's difficult not to be fearful, may I remind you that being hopeful and positive are proven to make a difference in our physical wellbeing?  And I LOVE the "take off breasts" machine.  God bless the children.

Yay Rosina!!!  I have #3 of AC tomorrow and I'm already counting the days to be done, so it's easy to understand your joy.

I used to get a style all the time as a teenager, cheap makeup, poor washing etc...take a teabag, any kind as far as I know, put in boiling water, wring out and place on the style..be careful it isn't too hot. It will get things moving. You can google to look for other "cures".

I had my son do this recently and it worked.

I had gone to CVS to buy Stye (yes, an eye medicine called Stye) and when I read the two ingredients I remember thinking how one of them sounded like it would block up the clog...now obviously that can't be right! But it sounded like a petroleum type thing and all I could think of was "clog"



Anyhow, repeat a few times a day, might take a few days.

Pat

Day 6 after chemo #2 and I would fit right in at the wailing wall. Enough already. Just makes me want to reach out and slap myself. And yet, I can't seem to find a way to stop it. Good grief. Gotta be the meds cuz I'm crying over anything and everything.

I have worried about the hugs, too. But it seems kind of brutal to shut off some one who is trying to offer comfort. So I just make sure to turn my head away. Think we need to take advantage of those hugs when we can get them.

Hope you are all hanging in there and that your day has been a smooth one.

OK, so I'm still torn on the hugs. Like BeHereNow, I really want to just finish and not have another delay due to being sick. On the other hand, maybe the sheer quantity of the hugs will be enough to counteract the germs. Maybe it will need to depend on my WBC count and where I am in my chemo cycle.



How about this: a name tag that says: "Healthy hugs happily accepted here."



I too, used to disdain hand sanitizer. Now I have a small bottle of it hooked to my purse and use it obsessively. I get especially nervous with the key pads and signing pens at check stands, also elevator buttons (especially ones in medical office buildings; I'm getting pretty good at hitting them with my elbows), shopping cart handles, and door handles (especially in bathrooms). I've also been known to use the ends of my scarf (the one used to hide the lopsidedness to open doors or press buttons) I'm really horrible at not accidentally rubbing my nose and eyes; a bad habit, really.



I like Doc Martins of Maui sunscreen: http://www.docmartinsmaui.com/StoreFront.bok

I get clogged pores easily, and this doesn't cause me to break out. It can also be put around your eyes and on your lips, and doesn't sting your eyes. It's hard to come by, but if you shop around, you can find it online for less if you buy several at once (suggest you just try one tube first to see if you like it). It is coconut oil based, and smells like coconut jelly bellies.



Indenial, this must be so hard when everything about this disease triggers all your fears. Keep remembering that you have made it this far, and that you are almost two-thirds done. I noticed on the link someone listed here to a list of famous people who had BC that one had adopted after BC and another had a surrogate birth. Love the breast remover machine. I remember my son used to design elaborate machines of all types when he was that age.



Virginia, I guess you must be used to the night shift if you have been doing it a while. Does all the chemo and BC-related treatments mess with your schedule? I doubt you can get chemo on the night shift!



For sties, a clean washcloth soaked in hot water and wrung out makes a good hot compress. Just gently press the cloth against your eye, then slowly wipe it in the direction of the sty (for instance, if the sty is on your lower lid, wipe upward from a couple of inches below your eye). The teabag might have some astringent qualities that will help also.



Onawing, I would let your MO know about the sty. They can tell you what to watch for and what to do for it. Better to call on Friday than have it get bad on the weekend. They could give you a prescription for something to treat it if it gets bad. I think there are prescription ointments that can be used.





Day two, and I am feeling good. Maybe too good. I think I'm hyped up on the steroids and operating a bit on the manic side. Trying not to go to fast and end up exhausted.



Found out at my chemo yesterday that the Taxol/Herceptin phase of treatment means over 7 hours of chemo starting at 8:30 am. Plus a shorter herceptin-only treatment on the alternating weeks. I notice it was the nurses who told me this. My MO never mentioned it. The fun never stops!

6cats. ..I am so sorry to hear your description.



I think I suffered from my own body image prior to this surgery. I had finally worked at removing my excess baby weight (my youngest is 10!). I took off 25 lbs and "only" had another 10-15 to go. I was changing my whole negative perception of those "skinny bitches" because I finally had figured out the answer, God did not make them that way, they WORK for it! Seems "dumb" I never thought of that before!

I had started eating right as well. I finally thought. I AM going to be better package.



Well, that is now changing.

Surgery, 6 weeks no exercising, smaller boobs (but Perkier!) and I still lost weight from eating correctly.

Now chemo...but I went and "bulked up 10 lbs., figuring I would lose it during chemo. I think I am up even more!

A shorter haircut. I was NOT happy by the reactions around me. The silence is as mean as if someone said I don't like it! BUT, I always wanted to go shorter! And it is "growing " on me...but fate says not for long!



Soon to be bald, and facing the next challenges of scarves, wigs, hats.



This is some journey! If anything I will try and find more positive in this. It took forever to realize those "skinny bitches" don't look skinny by nature. There IS a message in this journey, not only for me and my sisters, but for those watching us, and even for those that don't know us. Each persons message will be different.



I'm thinking my inner message is evolving, and right now I am going to fight to get back my sense of who I am. I'm not "skinny", probably never will be...but I AM eating healthier than I ever have and I am a role model for my children.



My outer message is different, i know my physical appearance isnt what i would like it to be. despite that I hope my outer message is saying to everyone "despite the ailment I carry on".

"I am here, ask me questions". "I am woman hear me roar!"



And honestly, I have been doing a lot of "deep" thinking. Why do I spend so much time worrying about my body image? The lotto is now over $300 million and if I won it tomorrow it won't change the biggest problem I currently face, and it certainly isn't my body image!



Sorry, I can't be helpful. Yes, this roller coaster ride is messing with my head!



Thank you for scientific experiment info...I will be sure to not mix and match in the bedroom...one more thing I have learned along this journey!

Pat

BeHereNow, sorry you don't feel good. Hope the nap did you well. I felt like a truck ran me over after the first round of chemo. It was awful. Take care of yourself.

Heather, will that be your last AC treatment? Hurray!



BeHereNow - sending positive energy and hoping you get past the wall soon. I'm really tired at the end of day 2, afraid of what tomorrow will bring. Unknown since this was my first......



For anyone interested, I did find a neat site on the web for applying makeup to faces that have lost hair from alopecia (chemo induced or otherwise). The eyebrow tutorial was really cool.



See link: http://eyelineher.blogspot.com/



Amy