August 2013 Chemo Sisters

Lisa &Sharon feel free to use the garden hose answer it is priceless when people don't expect it. For me it really helped because it immediately lightened the mood every time I used it. I've also blamed it on being born & raised in NJ - lets face it most of the state is a superfund site lol.



Batcatlady I just saw my onco tonight and he advised against aleve too. Again everyone is different and you should always check with your Dr.



For those of you wondering about timing of hair loss, I was not noticing hair loss today but I took a shower and washed my hair tonight....a lot came out. Then more came out while I was blow drying. I have very thick hair so it doesn't look like I lost any but it is just a matter of days at this point. So final report: hair loss started on day 13 after my first infusion.

On the upside my onco cleared me to go back to the gym and said travel is ok - I travel a lot for work so it will be nice to get back to a more normal routine.



Have a good night, ladies. Sweet dreams and no SEs!

Well round 2 of Treatment tomorrow, we travel 3 hours in the morning and treatment is at 9:45 AM, spend the night then Neulasta Friday and then home sweet home to ride out the SE'S. will keep everyone posted.



Hug's Shary🌻

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

Rayna...I had read your post and was so encourage to see I wasn't the only one who had issues with the steroid. You sounded just like me. Unfortunately I didn't realize that was my issue until well after I could have done something about it and had to live thru the weekend with no help. I even made my husband go out and buy a new lazyboy type chair thinking maybe that would help. Well now we have some extra seating.

Yukon...I too love your garden hose story.

Gashgold...my nurse said I will feel the worst on day 3 which they then said would be Wednesday. Since I had chemo on Monday I guess they counted that as day one.

Formygranddaughter...thanks for sharing about the hair. I have been courious about when people hair is falling out. i know everyone is different but still when you see someone who started chemo near your date it kind of give you an idea of when it will happen. Has anyone found before the fact that your hair just doesn't seem right anyways. I think my hair looks flat and isn't styling like it would before chemo so I am kind of ready for it to happen anyways. A couple of days ago I found I was almost out of hairspray and almost asked my son to pick some up for me from walmart and then I had to say wait...I guess I don't really need it now.

Gashgold: The Day you get your infusion is considered Day 1.

Try not to worry about people knowing by the time you have lost your hair everyone will know unless you are going to wear the same wig everyday. Just think of it as how much people think about you and are concerned for your well being. I know the look when people realized under my skull cap that I am bald and i know they are thinking "Ah, poor woman has cancer," thats what I would think. You will just have to get used to it and don't let it bother you. They mean well.

Love, Rayna

Today, I decree + declare a successful day. My latter days will be better then my former days!

Good morning ladies, gonna keep it brief I have to get ready to go do labs for tomorrow's chemo, I agree take those anti nausea med's on time, I tookmine every 6 hours like clock work and really never had to much nausea, just lost my appetite, but one thing that did sound good to me was fruit or anything cold. About the note books I have done that from day one( I was a receptionist for 3 years for a busy internist office) so I get copies of EVERYTHING, I have one big binder that keeps very thing from my mammo s, and all test results, each Dr has a section, all the way through all my pd medical bills associated with breast cancer, and I have a separate folder for my chemo and rads. I have a section for my Dr, test results, hand outs that the nurses give me, anything that comes from his office is in that binder and my nurse actuall said the first time I met her" oh we are going to get along great" I had my folder( it has a cute puppy on it listening to headphones) she thought it was great I take it every time I go and if I want a copy or have any questions it is right there. I hope every one who had treatment is doing well today and those of us going tomorrow,hydrate and eat well if you can and let's pray for minimal SE'S.

OMG!!!!! I don't know where my message went that I typed forever. I can't do that again. I just want those who have treatment today that I ampraying for you and asking God to grand you a painless, nausea-free day. God bless all of you and those who are at home trying to cope with various issues. I'm in that category, so I know what you're talking about. Let's all praise God for what he's done for us and is doing. God is good and we will win this battel.

Decree for today: I decree that Naan, our only stage 4, will be able to have total remission and be declared cancer free after these treatments are over. It is her second time through this. I can't imagine. Good luck Naan.

Sharon, yeah I remembered not to have a greasy hamburger for breakfast, haha! I had almost fat free Korean chicken porridge with nuked veges. I think I should be ok for today, thanks for the reminder!

Naan, Thanks for the number. We travel 45 minutes going and coming. I'll check that out. I ate just a tad of grease in that soup the night I got home from my first infusion. That's when I got sick. I would avoid it for 2 days, at least. Last night, my 3rd night, I ate stir-fry chicken with sweet and soud sauce. It was so good and didn't bother me. It was chicken breast with a tiny bit of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Didn't cause nausea.

Sharon, I think I love u, no I know it! U are so sweet, so glad I came to this thread!

Feeling great this morning, so ready to kick cancer in the ass! We can do this ladies, yes we can, yes we can!



Some great news, I had a really big lump on the back of my head, a tumor that bothered me every time I had my brain radiation, but now less pain and I can definitely feel it shrinking! The radiation is working, yes!!!

My radiation onc also told me prior to treatments that although I have a lot of tumors in the brain, they are so small that with about 4 wks of radiation treatment most or all will disappear, Amen! Can't wait for my post radiation brain MRI, so he can tell me, "you sure u had tumors in your brain, cause I don't see any!" How awesome would that be!

God sent me my new medical team and I am so confident they will cure me!

I'm on top of the world looking down on creation it's the only explanation I can find, and the reason is clear it's because you (all of you and our God) are here, I love that song!

Double Mastectomy:  Ladies I was wondering if anyone can tell me about the surgery that I am going to have when my chemo is done. It is creeping up on me and I am getting a little nervous and even second quessing my decision.  I read somewhere that with a Bilateral Mastectomy with Tissue Expanders and of course drains, that you are not suppose to use your arms for 3 weeks, I have bought a recliner to sleep in so I have that covered but I would like to know about the pain each of you experienced and what can you not do. Do you need someone with you 24 hours a day. How long before the drains come out, when can you shower, can you do things like open a sliding glass patio doors, when can you drive, just basically what can you do and not do and how long until you can do certain things, what is the total recovery time. Don't sugar coat anything for me regarding pain I find I do better when I have all the facts.  I know I can google this but I find hearing it from someone who has been there done that is way more reliable.  If anyone can give me some of their own experiences would be really helpful.  Thank You,

Love, Rayna

Wow is this a busy thread...I check in every day and still can't keep up! Welcome Kathy and Yukon (and anyone else I missed--don't take it personally). Hugs and prayers to everyone starting chemo today and tomorrow, and to those of you having your second treatments this week.

Rayna, to answer your question about double mastectomy (BMX), there are lots of other threads out there that discuss surgery, so look for them. Just like this thread is for August surgeries, there are usually ones for each month's surgeries (or you can start your own). I can speak to the BMX but not the tissue expanders. I had a BMX I(I opted not to do reconstruction) in June, and had two drains in for a while. One drain slowed down and came out after two weeks (but I have had problems with seromas since); the other drain came out after two weeks because it lost suction. A week later they put another drain back in, and it stayed in for three weeks (and it's been fine ever since). You need to limit your arm activity at least as long as the drains are in....nothing above your head, no lifting more than 5 pounds. You will heal faster and have less drainage issues if you behave (probably why I had so many issues....I was a bad patient. I have never been one to like others doing for me, I like to do it all myself).

HVV, happy belated birthday! Too bad you have to be doing chemo on your birthday, cancer doesn't care about holidays! I got my diagnosis the Friday before Mother's Day, mastectomy four days before Father's Day, emergency surgery two days before Father's Day, I had a drain for my anniversary, get to start my chemo just after Labor Day, and if I count my schedule right I will be moving into phase two of the chemo regimen of weekly Taxol treatments at Thanksgiving. I tell myself that next year I will SO appreciate all those dates because I will still be here to celebrate!

Peace and blessings to all of you!

Martha

Hi Ladies, sitting in my infusion room waiting to get the bennydrl and Aloxi, then Big Red # 2 will start it should be about 1/2 push off and on making sure we have good blood return and then the IV drip of cytoxin will run😝I was just reading Naan say day 14 was the magic hair loss # and I gave a couple good pulls and hair was coming out. Day 14 it is I better quit pulling it out or I will look like I have mange🐶Good luck to everyone else having treatment today, lets pray for minimal SE'S 🙏 Wll check back soon.



Shary🍁

Shary, in that case, I guess in 10 days, I'll be doing the same thing! Scary but inevitable, I guess. When mine starts shedding, I am tieing up little poney tails and cutting it short to save the hair. I am sewing it onto a hairband to wear under my scarves and hats. Hope it goes well for you today. Prayers have been said lots today. God bless you today.

Mankatostate, you're right. I don't feel as well today. It's not horrible, but I'm having to lie around. I don't have energy for anything. I even get tired sitting here at the computer, working puzzles, or reading.

Go Naan. I've been packmanning your blood all morning. I've been in your brain, your shoulder, your lungs, etc. I'm willing the chemo to catch every last cell available today. I'm willing the same for the others, too, but especially Naan, since she has more to gobble up. God bless you.

Have a good day ladies. I'm just lethargic and doing absolutely nothing.