September 2013 Chemo Group

Kbeee - Oh I'm sorry about the class. That's frustrating (and weird that you were the only one!). Oh well, hope you at least scored some freebies. I hear you on the PMS. I'm on the every 3 week schedule too, and that sucks. LOL

hockeymommy - Do you go Thursday, too? I'm thinking we're on the same AC schedule. Unlike you, I am READY! I want to get this last AC over with so I don't have to see that red devil anymore, and then I can say I'm halfway through chemo!! The SEs do last longer each time for me, too, which has me worried about this one, but what can you do? Just keep swimming. :-)

kjsimpson - I really feel for anyone going through this with a full time job. I only work part-time, and my husband is my boss, so missing any time at all isn't a problem. It must be so hard to have to balance working and time off. And I don't know how any of you are holding down a job. I am so exhausted at the end of the day, even on my good days, and I at most work 5 hours/day! I do have two kids in school so I am shuttling them back & forth, doing homework, and then we have football & softball practices and games.. but still. I'm basically a stay at home mom. I honestly don't think I could work 40 hours a week during chemo. Kudos to those of you who are!

Hi everyone,

My mom was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in mid-August and is just about to begin chemo in the coming week. It's been a harrowing past few months to say the least. Through this time, a constant source of strength and inspiration has been a blog of one of my friends who is a young mother of 2, fighting stage IV colon cancer and currently in the middle of chemo. Her blog entries are incredibly honest and powerful. It is impossible not to be moved and inspired, and I hope that everyone going through chemo (whether directly or as a caregiver) can check it out and also draw strength from her beautiful writing.

http://julieyipwilliams.wordpress.com/about/

josgirl,

I'm starting to see similar bills coming in. When I was first diagnosed (less than 60 days ago), I looked through my medical insurance parameters and realized that I'm just going to have to resign myself to the fact that I will hit my max out of pocket this year and next. Each year it is $5,000. So, I talked with a couple of my bigger providers and they agreed to work with me. I figure I'll be paying this off for a few years. Good news is that, with treatment, I'll live that long. :-)

I don't know if your doctor's billing office talked to you about Genentech program that helps with your co-pays if you are willing to let them have your health information for research purposes. They will preserve your privacy, but they need the data for research purposes and it can dramatically help with your co-pays and help you meet your max out of pocket. http://www.genentech-access.com/patients If your doctor's office hasn't talked to you about this option, ask them.

Also, I have a little bit of HR background in the federal sector. If you have a question, feel free to message me on facebook and I'll see if we can dig out the answers.

I went to LGFB yesterday and it was awesome! The different types of head gear and how good it looks is amazing.

No chemopause for me either-it is all happening today-hair all over the bathroom floor-should I shave it all off or just crop it down?

No more sick leave left but the bills keep coming...

Went to a BC forum today and it is so good to see all the courageous women who have come out on the other side and are carrying on with their lives so bravely. One observation-no one had long hair-LOL!

My tc#2 is on Tuesday next week. All the best to everyone and thank you again for all the support.

LighthouseLady,

Thanks for the support on working. I actually think you have a tougher go of it. Chasing kids, games, practices, school.... I was just telling a friend yesterday that I am SO grateful for the timing of my diagnosis.

Last year was my son's senior year. He is also my youngest. He had been a two sport varsity sport athlete (basketball and baseball) for his sophomore and junior years and then in his senior year decided to play football (again) too. He wanted a 'no regrets' senior year. It was such a joy to enjoy his senior year and it was all about him. If this had happened last year, it would have interfered with his senior year and the focus wouldn't have been so much on him. So, I am grateful. He had an unfettered, wonderful, and happy senior year. In all three sports he was a starter for all but three games. I was at nearly every game and they got to the play-offs in all three sports. Wow! What a wild ride! In baseball, they got all the way to the State Championship game. Ended up 2nd in State. Banquets, Homecoming, Tolo, Senior Prom, Graduation... it was a wonderful year. So grateful. Oh, and to top it off, I got the best seat in the house at graduation and signed the young man's diploma (story for another day)!

Stay strong. You have the far tougher role. I'm praying you have the strength be where you want/need to be this year. :-)

lighthouse - can you link the rash/acne timing to steroids? They can cause both.

Hi, ladies. Here is a Taxol update and a quick question for all you bald beauties out there.

I'm on weekly Taxol, and I had my fourth infusion on Monday. The tumor seems to be shrinking, which is great. SEs so far have been pretty manageable. Mostly insomnia from the steroids and pins and needles in my hands from the Taxol. No chemopause yet, for better or worse. My hair started falling out in earnest this past weekend (so about 6 days after treatment number 3). I think I'm going to shave it off tonight. Tired of dealing with all the hair. That leads me to my question. I'm travelling tomorrow and need to go through airport security. Has anyone had to do that yet where you have hair in your identification photo but not on your head? I'm a little nervous about the scrutiny and attention that I'm expecting to get. I'm worried I'll burst into tears having to explain myself -- yes, I am a bit emotional these days

Vanessa - Stupid cancer!! I hate that we even have to think about something like this. Boo. But kudos to you for thinking ahead. I'm with SpecialK - most people don't look exactly like their ID picture. Here's {{hugs}} for strength if it comes down to you having to explain. I hope it doesn't, though, and you breeze right through security.

SpecialK - I have had no steroids since my last chemo infusion two weeks ago.... the rash started up again two days ago. I'm not taking any meds right now other than claritin daily, and a few vitamins/supplements. Nothing new within the last few days. I'm stumped. I did wear my wig all day Monday & Tuesday because I had to work, which is why hubby suggested it might be that.

So... on the subject of hair. I just came home from the grocery store and thought I'd share a laugh. I was perusing the apples and there were two store employees there in the produce section. I hear "I really love your hair" and I know I don't have hair, so I didn't think anything of it. Then the girl said louder, "Ma'am, I really love your hair. REALLY love it." I looked up and she smiled at me. LOL My mom told me I should have whipped my wig off and told her she could have it. Hee hee. I guess it's a good thing that my fake hair fools people, but it was a surreal moment to be sure.

Don't worry too much about having to explain about the hair Vanessa, I'm sure there are a ton of variations from the pictures they see!

I have my 5th weekly taxol on Friday. I have some bald spots, but am still holding out on shaving my head. But the shedding sure is a mess, I wonder if it will ever end. I do definitely have days where it is more, seems to be days 2/3 after infusion.

hockeymom- I feel like you are reading my mind! I can so relate to how you feel. I keep thinking, can't 3 times be enough. I so want to just stop now! But, We can do it...we've got to for the kids!

Lighthouse I have dealt with a similar rash....back of head/ neck. Mine has gone away or lessoned since I started back on steroids for chemo #3 so I think it's some sort of allergy that the steroids might be helping.

Gramof2boys - I've had 3 AC treatments (#4 is tomorrow - woohoo!). I have felt the exact same every time, only my initial side effects (nausea, fatigue, etc) stick around a day longer each time. But after about day 4 or so, I feel pretty good. This time I have felt GREAT for the past 10 days. Everyone is different, though, and supposedly the effects of chemotherapy are cumulative, so a lot of people feel worse as they go along and have more treatments.

Jkelly - Is the neupogen as expensive as Neulasta? My insurance was billed over $9,000 for one Neulasta shot!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness I don't have to co-pay that, because like you said, it's done in the doctor's office so it goes through my medical coverage, not prescription coverage. I had to pick up my Emend prescription today for the first time (they gave me samples for it the last two times) and my co-pay was $100. For three pills. Yikes.

LHL my insurance has a standard copay for brand names, so I'm not sure what the actual cost is for neupogen. It's mind boggling how much pharmaceutical companies are allowed to charge for this stuff. Luckily my coverage is kinda out of control awesome (and the reason I put a hold button on my divorce, lol, since it comes through my husband's work), so my rx copays aren't too bad. I pay around $70 per treatment in prescription copays, which sucks a bit since it's twice a month, but compared to what I'd pay on other coverage it's a pittance :-)