Chemo May 2013

HVV my Dr told me to use Senecot for C and Immodium for D.  I never used the Senecot but did use the Immodium several times.  Hopefully you will feel better tomorrow.

Lorrie I hope your pain dimishes soon.

I think I am supposed to do 5 years on Tamoxifen, I will find out soon.  I read that one of the side effects is that it can cause your hair to thin.  I'm wondering if that will affect our hair growing back.

Well girls, just got back from my MO visit. I start Tamoxifen tonight! I am four weeks post  last infusion of TC, thought it would be longer before I started hormone therapy. Well I guess here goes...cant be like chemo right? TE exchange slated for August 29!

Thank you all!

I haven't had alcohol since my surgery in April.  I am looking forward to a strawberry margarita from Chilis once I get my taste buds back.  The pills for thrush make my taste buds take longer to come back, I still have 4 pills to go.  Maybe I can have one next week before surgery.

Gully keep us posted on how Tamoxifen treats you.

A short update on my Taxol infusion #3: I had a bad itching belly, chest and legs from day 3 to 5. I took some allergy medicine but that did not help. It has subsided by now - I had some itching after #2 but it was a lot worse this time. No bone/muscle/joint pain this time (same as after Taxol #2) - I had that after Taxol #1 though.

I felt very tired on day 3&4 and do still have frequent hot flashes that sometimes wake me up during the night.

I have developed some numbness on the upper side of my toes (right foot) and the tip of my right pointer finger feels a little numb too. I had my treatment on Monday and went camping on the weekend so Taxol is definitely easier for me than AC.

Next and LAST (yay!!) treatment on Monday...

Limit alcohol??

Merlot has been the only thing getting me through chemo! LOL just kidding! Wink wink!



Gully... Looks like we are gonna be waiting for your posts about the tamoxifen... Until we catch up...



Picc dressing change today. It always hurts after this nurse does it. It's out 4.5cm now... Another 1.5 is all I got left.... 2 more dressing changes till last chemo. I think it will be okay. I know I'll have blood draws after last chemo, but I'll be okay wit a poke for that. I just want to finish the chemo with the picc. I am really glad I ended up getting it. Especially after my freak out after looking it up on YouTube...

Lorrie, I like the way that sounds for you!



Gully, did the mo say to cut the pills in half to start? I had read someone did that....I sort of liked the idea...I'm thinking of doing that, even if MO doesn't recommend it. What the heck....figure it shouldn't hurt me?

My mo has not ordered blood work, when I see her Thursday I will be asking why...I'd like to know my vitamin D levels and red blood cell levels. Etc. if she won't order it I will go to my general practitioner and bring my last labs from before final chemo, heck I will bring her all the labs so she can see what has been happening to me!



Just came from the nutritionist today. She seemed very nice.

She gave me a pamphlet from the American Institute for Cancer Research. Apparently I need to be cutting back on red meat and processed meat. And I had no idea that pork is considered a red meat! (So I just rechecked this pamphlet and it is saying to decrease the risk of colorectal cancer ...but I don't think this is geared to only colorectal cancer, but to cancer in general)



Sigh, plant based is supposed to be better, guess I better find a way to eat those suckers!



Pat

JWoo love the tattoo on your head.  There is someone here that does henna tattoos once a month free for cancer patients.  He (artist) did his wifes head when she went through chemo and now they do small tattoos while you are being treated.  They want me to go to their place and do a henna tattoo on my head.  I wasn't sure about one on my whole head, maybe because o I didn't care for the picture they show of hers.  Just not my kind of art.  It kind of looks like a maze all around her head.  It would also be free and said it could take 2-3 hours.  Now you have me re-thinking, if I could have some input on what was on my head it could be kind of cool.  Besides it is henna and won't last forever. By the way his wife just finished chemo and her hair is nice and thick, short but it looks awesome!

Gully-thank you for keeping us posted with your tamoxifen journey.

Kate-I could only imagine how unconfident you must be with Rex Mammography. Is there another place you can go too? How on earth did they miss it when your nurse practitioner saw it? Comforting to know that that nurse practitioner is a confident backup. Sorry to hear about your friend. I couldn't imagine. Blessingscto her.

Lisa-Congrats that today is your last day. May your S.E,'s be minimal.

Pat-one way that I've been supplementing my vegies is with spirulina. There is the powder and tablet form. One serving a day supposedly equals 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. There are many other benefits also. I get Pacifica spirlina on amazon. It is a microscopic

blue green vegetable microalgae. I'm not consistant with eating vegies and fruit. When I first found out I had cancer I changed my ways around because of what I read. But, alas, I have not kept up with my vegie/fruit

intake. Read about spirlina was so good for energy boosting on another

forum. Started reading about it and was impressed. Not sure how it helps with energy level because I don't know what to compare it to.

Lorrie-2 more woo woo. Me too:). Waiting in waiting room to go in right now. Ended up I got here an hour early but it gave me a chance to cat

up with you lovely ladies. Merlot is my choice of wine also. Haven't had much since I found out about the big C. My hubby came up with a great paring with merlot. Original flavor laughing cow. Have a sip, then take a bite. As the laughing cow is melting in your mouth, have another sip. Really, really good. Glad I got the oic too. So far it is working perfectly. Hope I don't jinx it.

Argynnis- yay. Only one more!

Teresa-Glad you are feeling better.

Kate-So sorry about your momma.



Blessings to all - Carla

Someone posted that to my FB page, Pat.... Made me cry cuz it's true!

Ran into my SIL yesterday...(re-cap, she was stage 0 grade 0 and is doing rads only) I was getting out from my picc apt & she was coming out of rads. We talked for a few minutes and she was all kinds of upset that another rads patient was complaining about her 10 treatments, when my SIL had to do 20.

She says.. "it just really makes me mad when they have no idea how lucky they are".... "I am so done with this! Lorrie, you have no idea how tired and yucky I feel!"... You really look great, Lorrie. Chemo must be going well."
I stared at her quietly, as I am sitting by then, because my legs won't carry my weight anymore since I'm still in the rough patch of my treatment from last week.

I just looked at her and said, " congrats on Friday being your last treatment... Now you can get back to normal life again.... I'm so sorry it was rough on you, but glad it's all over now."

Here's what I really wanted to say... " really?! $&¥€# £<><<+£<€><}#. £<£%?...."

I'm giving myself a pat on the back for my restraint.... CLUELESS.... & you just can't cure stupid, so I didn't waste any of my precious energy trying to.

Lorrie,

I thought you put your post like that! Lol...cursing her out and telling her your diagnosis!



On the one hand I am happy for your SIL not having to do anything but rads....however on the other hand I hear you!



Pat

Sounds like there is a lot going on with everyone!  Had my #3 Taxol today.  7/8 chemo's done.  I can't wait for chemo to be done.  I guess I thought they'd all be easier somehow...although, I can't complain much about Taxol #2 (still pain and numbness, but not nearly as bad as my experience with Taxol #1).  Had my first herceptin treatment today too.  I have stopped wearing my wig and just goe along with the scarf/hat look.  It's just more comfortable and easier.

ukkate - sorry about the constipation.  I have had a really rough time with that too.  I tried taking ducolase 2 times per day and that helped a little, but seem to upset my stomach.  So, even though I was told not to eat salad and raw vegetable (unless they are peeled), I went ahead and took the chance.  I wash them all really well on only prepare them at home (I don 't eat salads, etc for a restaurant).  I also found some prunes (which I have always hated) that are infused with and orange flavor - they also have lemon.  Those actually taste okay and I have been eating one serving a day regularly.  In addition, I purchased some cottonelle wipes and use them soley on my behind - I haven't used regular toilet paper in weeks.  Plus, I follow up with a TUCKS pad after each bowel movement.  This all had really helped me manage my constipation and help with the painful side effects too.  I have also used sitz baths when needed but since my following my new routine, haven't had to use those much.

I know 8 chemos aren't much compared to other cancer victims I have run into during my sessions, but 8 is enough and they can't end soon enough.

Hope everyone's treatments this week have gone or are going better than your last ones

Hang in there everyone!  I can't wait for hair - anyone have any idea on how long it take to grow back in?  My little brother (15 years my junior) is getting married in November.

Today is the final chemo! I ordered the gong myself. Was upset I couldn't ring anything so it is my gift to the center and patients. On first day everyone writes a message on a rock for rock garden. Ds and I thought gong fit in with the "fung shui " of the rock garden. Btw I wrote

F u breast cancer lol. I have been singing "bang a gong" by t rex (I think) for days now. Now miserable weekend and then should feel ok for a while before rads.



Whether I post or just read this thread has been very important to me and my sanity. I will continue to read and post here as it is my bc home. Still have to deal emotional aftermath and this will be where I turn. A big thanks to all you wonderful ladies for your support.



Lisa