Chemo May 2013

I love the Cottonelle wipes, great for diarrhea too!

HVV-is your tongue white?  It could be thrush and if so you need to call your Dr and get on some medication.  The thrush kind of burned in my throat and even caused some discomfort in my chest.

Darn ,thought I posted earlier, but it must not have gone through.



Lorrie, I baked something each time I went to chemo.

Today I went for my follow up appointment and baked again.

Here is a link to a similar cake (the linked one my son made)

http://www.wilton.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=145444&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=

I made men with fresh raspberries on top and surrounded the outside with raspberry Milano cookies.

I call this my "idiot proof cake" as no one sees the frosting, so it doesn't matter how much crumb you get into it! Lol



Pat

Wow Pat I'm sorry.  I love my Oncologist.  I wonder what the deal is with Tamoxifen and having a period or not.  I'm going to be doing it and had a full hysterectomy in 2010, so obviously I haven't had one in a while.  I didn't get a PET scan either, I asked about it and my Dr said he didn't feel it was necessary and he is OLDER, lol.  Idk what to tell you.  {hugs to you Pat and anyone else who needs one today}

Thanks Teresa! I could always use a hug!



Don't want to say I am "happy" your doctor didnt order a PET, but it IS comforting, I guess? (Lol). Teresa, I'm guessing they will look at your age and estrogen levels ? Ten decide which protocol?



Maria, I hope October arrives quickly for you with minimal side effects.



Pat

Pat...

Im sorry... Your Onc apt sounds like it sucked.... I'd say we had the same doc, except mines a dude. But I have lost a lot of confidence with him from the beginning. I just tell myself "I only see him once in a while" while my nurses, friends, the Internet & THIS group has been the most helpful and informative for me.



I'm upset with one of my girls today. Since getting the picc line and SEs lasting longer, I've had to have the conversation with her to stop asking me to watch my 3 month old grandson until I'm done with chemo and the picc line is out. She has continued to ask & I have taken him a couple of times, but it knocks me out for days afterward & I can't risk my picc (not allowed to lift more than 5-10lbs...) well, if you knew me, you'd know that I'm still carrying groceries and such when I shouldn't.



Anyway, she texted me today to ask if I'd watch him overnight tomorrow night (she works 8pm to 7am) I hate it! It makes me feel like a terrible grandma, but I told her no & to try to recall the discussion we had & that every time she asks and I have to say "no" it makes me feel bad...

I get a scathing text back telling me "sorry for asking my mom for help" & so on....



This is our youngest and probably the most clueless of what I've been going through because I try to keep up a good front for the girls... She doesn't ask how I'm feeling.... She couldn't tell you when my treatments are.. If I'm in bed in the middle of the day, she calls me a bum for taking the day off work without even asking why I'm in bed... In fact, when she texted, I had to leave work early and was trying to get a nap in...... Clueless!



I guess I'm just venting! I just got done with a crying jag on what a horrible grandma I must seem to her, but she's just going to have to get over it.....



I SUPER F$&CKING hate cancer!



Thanks for the cake ideas Pat



Hugs to all who need them! & happy thoughts!

Lorrie

Lisa,

Congrats on last chemo! I'm sorry it was so emotional, but it's to be expected... I'm tearing up just imagining my last day.... Not that I want the treatments... Just thatvwe have all endured so much through it. Medically, physically, emotionally... & I'm with you! I don't know what kind of shape I'd be in without this discussion group! I feel like I know some of you like good friends..... Unfortunately & fortunately, I don't think our hubby's will ever understand.



I know this is the "may chemo group" but I hope we all stay in touch here throughout the rest of our treatments....



I may even solicit for a couple email addresses before we are all done.... Hahaha

lpc - Yea for ringing the bell! Done with chemo!!! I'll be doing that in 2 weeks and can't wait. I feel like chemo is like running a marathon I didn't train for. I know I'll cry tears also....just such a relief to have gotten to the other side of it.

Annie

Hi everyone,



Just wanted to say that I am exactly one week post chemo. It was very nice to reclaim my Thursdays today. Today is the first day I haven't felt like total crap after my last treatment, so that's encouraging. Im also suffering with the constipation, but I"m hoping as my stomach recovers I'll be able to eat more veggies and fruit and that will get better. I do alternate taking Miralax and Senna. It helps some but not entirely. The toes on my right foot have been frozen for the last week, but I'm starting to get some movement out of them, so maybe the neuropathy is starting to slowly wane. My feet hurt though and I''m still tired. Like the others who have finished, I tire quickly and my fifteen year old daughter asked me why I walk so slowly today. Told her I didn't want to, just don't have the energy to go much faster. I ended chemo with some neuropathy, a sour stomach, a stabbing pain in my big toe, fatigued, anemic and seven pounds up. Could have been worse. I hope all of these things go away over the next month or months. It does feel good to be done because I didn't feel like my body could handle much more chemo.



Lorrie, I can't imagine taking care of a baby during or after chemo. It sounds like your daughter doesn't understand how much fatigue comes with chemo. Pat had some good ideas.



Congrats Lisa on finishing and to all who have finished and I am sending good thoughts to all who are still in the process. Each week gets you closer to the finish line.

LJaeger if you don't mind me asking, how did they find your positive internal mammary node? Was it a sentinel node when they did the test with the radioactive dye?

Lorrie,

I have random breast pains too...mostly on the lumpectomy side but sometimes in the other breast as well. I read (in a book at my oncs office) that herceptin can cause breast pain around the surgery site. When I asked about it, the PA said that healing takes awhile and the pain and burning sensation I have is normal. So I guess it just goes with the territory.

Hope everyone has a great weekend

Annie

Ukkate, Congratulations on your last treatment! I have 2 more to go and like you plan to keep you with board as well.  It sounds like you had a loving relationship with your mom and that she is in your heart during the anniversary of her passing.  I'm sorry she didn't have a chance to spend time with your babies.  WOW, congratulations on getting out of the chemo chair. I had my 2nd Taxol treatment and with AC I could drink water all day long was always thirsty, with Taxol I would perfer not to drink. It’s easier if I mix it with OJ or add some lemon juice.

Argynnis, I had Taxol #2 yesterday and I'm hoping for no bone/joint and muscle pain which I had on the first.  I've had hot flashes for the last 7 years and the chemo has only made them worse.  I always wake up several times night in a sweat.  I have the AC on, a ceiling fan and a desk fan.  My DH calls it the wind tunnel…he has the blankets ;-)

Itiswhatitis, I love having milestones set in my mind. It really helps getting through all the testing, surgery, chemo.... I feel a lot better now that I'm past the 1/2 mark with chemo and I'm finding taxol easier than AC.  Your SIL is a piece of work.  If another person told me how good I look I'm going to lose it.  I am actually avoiding people because that is all I hear.  Followed by, "how are you feeling".  Most people really don't want to know the devil in the details (BC is a special kind of hell) so I say a few half truths. The new one, Taxol is much easier but don’t meton all the new lovely SE. I need better answers, what I want to say would leave people with their jaws hanging.

Pat, Love the quote, it's so true. Yesterday, I asked my MO about the last visit and if there is anything special about appointment. If he goes over important information I want my husband to be there to help ask follow-up questions.  Yesterday, my SIL went with me and she didn't hear the MO talking so when I asked her if I heard him right she said I couldn't hear him.  Oh well.  He also said I lhave NED which is true if they aren’t looking but I guess from the MO POV they only run so many tests.  I had tons of scans before the surgery.  I’m stage IIIa and worried that I’ll freak out over every ache and pain after treatment.  Let’s hope they’re right NED.

MomofSam, I am trying to think of something special to do for the staff as well.  They've been great.  Yesterday, they were celebrating one of the nurses 60th birthday and it was so nice to hear them laughing and enjoying a pot luck lunch.  Not sure what I'll but I might use your idea of the mini-cupcakes.

Lisa, Yeah, for beating the gong!  It's funny how we can be strong and all of a sudden something with trigger strong emotions.

Lorrie, I am so sorry your daughter is not providing you with the support you need and you are a wonderful grandma and before BC you helped out.  Your daughter doesn't appreciate a great Mom and she needs to make other arrangements for child care.  Maybe should have my mom.  When I was pregnant (married, working, put myself through college) she told me to have an abortion.  When I asked to babysit once a year, to go fishing with my dad she said "I'm not that kind of grandmom".  She wasn't.  My kids never were close to her and despite me trying to make sure they knew their grandparents she didn't want anything to do with my family.  Luckily, my husband’s family is the opposite and so loving.  My Mom and herself focus brought me to tears many a times and now I have very little contact because I know it just won't go well.  Pat gave some good advice to blame to doctors and not get right back to her.

As for me, with Taxol I cannot sleep despite trying; Ativan, Neulesta, Ambien (sp) and Tylenol PM.  I can sleep for an hour or 2 but wake up and can't get back to sleep.  With Taxol #1 it was like this for the full 2 weeks.  With #1 had some neuropathy (sore fingers and toes), weakness in legs for a few days, back ache and big toe nails are starting to discolor and lift up.  The nurse said to try Tea Tree oil so I hope that will work.

I am also gaining weight since eating has not been an issue though I am nauseous.  During my treatment yesterday by BP dropped to 88/70   low for me.  Anyone else have that?  During AC my WBC would drop with each infusion and after my first Taxol it didn’t' change.  I hope it holds for the rest of Taxol treatments.

Have a great weekend,

Robin

I hear you Jill. I unfortunately have gained at least 10 lbs. I am finding these first couple of days after Taxol, I am really needing to focus on pain management. I have joint, muscle and nerve pain from the Taxol. The nurse I talked to yesterday said they have found that younger women have more taxol pain?! I had not heard this before but if I am not up on my meds, the pain is excruciating!

The nurse prescribed me a diuretic to try. She said it will make me pee like crazy! I will let you know if it helps.

Can't wait for 9/3.

Just started my tamoxifen today.

I decided to cut pills in half for the first week.

We just left for a one week vacation in Lake Placid (trip was booked and paid for last year) so I don't need hormonal surprises while away.



I like how the MO said "hot flashes, mood swings...." I just picuture me being the exorcist, head spinning and spewing pea soup. I better stay away from pea soup! Lol



My poor family, if this tamoxifen causes mood swings they are either going to all leave or they will throw me out. I have been so bad this past year with one full day of mood swings as PM'S...uncontrollable, all out , extreme emotional mood swing! if I can figure it out I am fine, but my period is so irregular I sometimes have no idea why I am "crazed".



Pat

Itis I never got out of bed yesterday so you did better than me. Its not pathetic its life on chemo and it sucks.



Patty have a great vacation. Not sure when I will start the tamoxifen but cant imagine how much worse hot flashes can be. Friend told me about cool jammies which help at night. Am going to look on amazon today and see what they are all about. She just started tamoxifen a week ago.



AryaS hope pain is under control today. I expect mine will be gone by this evening followed by weak legs tomorrow. Knowing the pattern helps me get thru it.



Lisa