August 2013 Chemo Sisters

FMG & Lisa - YAY for the last one!!! That must be such a good feeling.

Candi - That would make me nervous, too. I have my last AC Thurs, and then Taxol in two weeks, so I don't know about the steroids for me yet. I know there is a big concern regarding allergic reaction to Taxol, so that's probably why. I won't sleep for a week if I have to take that much, though. Yikes.

mankatostate, I'm usually the one who says if you feel good, do it; however, if your counts are low + your doctor recomments avoiding crowds + sick people for 48 hours, I suggest you follow his instruction . . . including banning your husband to the sofa and avoiding your son's soccer game.

You have to put your health first. It's only 48 hours! Your son will have more soccer games + your husband can fend for himself for a day or two . . . especially if it means you getting better soon!

Just to update all of u, I'm in the hospital cause I have not had a lot if energy, am nauseous, have low appetite, difficulty getting around without shortness of breath and coughing. I came into the ER per my onc and family request. Dr thinks I might have pneumonia. What next?

Feel better soon Julie!

praying for you naan! I hope you are feeling better soon!

SaltyJack and Sewstrong...I am praying for you with your bone pain...Hoping that you Sharon can do well at the reunion! Salty I am praying that your counts come up. I have been following you both (and the others) on the other thread you are both on, but haven 't posted as I worry I maybe too young to join. Do you know if they are still keeping it older women or are their women in their 40's posting. Either way know I am thinking (and praying for you both) this weekend.

LHL-So glad for you too...Great feeling isn't it! So stupid that we have to go thru this all! This week has been hard for me. I have one more and I just want to quit...so sick of being sick and tired! And tired of having everyone say "you can do it" or you are so strong...nope not strong...just have no other choice if I want to kick cancer's butt. You are half way there...you can do it...(there I said it too!)

Hello everyone! Yes, Monday was my last round of T/C and Tuesday was my last Neulasta. Hooray!!!!

No bad symptoms to speak of outside of more fatigue, and it seemed that the Ativan made me sleepy for the first time. I think I should go through this last round ok.

I return in 2 weeks to the MO for the post chemo check and a flu shot. Then a couple days later-- the port comes out! Ugh. It's basically the same thing all over, no food after midnight, get there at 6:30 am, they take it out w local sedation and Versed (amnesia drug) and I'm out of there by 10. Good.

Rads start October 28. I'll be outside with the pumpkins glowing in the dark for Halloween.

Looking forward to seeing some of you join me at the end of this road. And for those of you in the midst of it all, all my best to you.

Julie, especially take care and I hope they beat that pneumonia right away! Much love.

Hello - I have my last chemo treatment tomorrow and I am really dreading going. Just like mankatostate said I just want to quit. My muscles in my legs hurt so bad I can barely walk. I definitely have to get that under control or will be in a wheelchair soon. I have had so many issues just like everyone else and it just doesn't seem fair that we all have to go through this. Today was the first day without side effects of migraine headache, diahrea or naseau and now I have to go back through this all again. I just need to do this one more time so I can move on and get on with my implant surgery and back to work ad my new normal life. This has been a journey I hope none of us have to repeat!! Oh I forgot I have been diagnosed with lymphodem as well arm swelled double in size ..... What else can happen.... Really!! I just want my life back. Starting to give up and feel negative. Wishing everyone well!!

I pray that everyone is well.

My last nfusion is tomorrow and I feel very strange about it. I have what seems like a period so maybe I'm just emotional. I feel anxious, aggravated, nervous, concerned, stressed + uneasy . . . when I thought I would be excited, ready to party + so through with it (chemo). I wonder why I feel this way. I even have my "last chemo" sign + camera to take the picture of my last treatment . . . complete with bald head.

Tonight, for the first time, I have slight feelings of pins + needles in my hands + I have light spasms in the strangest of places.

I guess over the last 2-1/2 months I gotten used to chemo (in a strange way) and after tomorrow I'm going back into the unknown . . . Tamoxifen. My body will have to detoxify, readjust + reset . . . just to get used to a newer norm, that will last for 5 years.

I can almost say that I feel . . . a little down!

God is great + this, too, will pass. In the meantime, I will allow myself to feel however I feel. I will copy this post + add it to my journal.

May you rest in perfect peace on the wings of angels!

TanyaF: After the steroids wore off after my first TC treatment, I developed a spreading rash too...started in hands and neck and spread all over by the third night. Took lots of Benadryl & Hydrocortisone 1% cream, but I couldnt keep up with the rash. Saw my MO and they prescribed a better med & cream for me to use and it worked great! Also Aveeno Oatmeal bath helped.

They say it was a drug reaction to the taxotere.

Today I had my last nfusion!!! My MO was really pleased with how my chemo went; according to her I sailed through it without any significant incidents or challenges. I asked if I would receive a "certificate of completion" she laughed and check to see if they had anything, they didn't.

Neulasta shot tomorrow. Then I will have a month off before the next round: Tamoxafin + replacement of tissue expander

In November I plan to start detoxing and adding raw foods to my diet . I am also joining an organic co-op (I got the info from this site).

My body is craving roughage; I think I'm going to eat a salad including raw spinach, carrots, peeled cucumber, mixed greens, red onion + pine nuts. I don't think it will hurt, do you?

Togetherness, how did you make out today? What's next for you?

I'm glad so many of us are done with the chemo; I have two more left. The side effects are staying minimal although I might be redeveloping a post mammogram abscess, but it's moving slowly if that's what's happening. Now I'm starting to worry about Rads.

I'm starting to have another emotional weekend and this time, instead of waving a flag on FaceBook, which worked but for which I am also sort of ashamed to have done. It bothers me that my supposed best friend hasn't seen me since early July and only called that emotional weekend. I know she hates dealing with other people's problems and things she can't control, but gimme a break. I guess giving a "Hey, I'm lonely and need some company" shame is from my family, I was always accused of doing things for attention. I say accused because years later I found out a lot of those times I had major injuries that went untreated (thanks mom...). A hamstring avulsion, two broken arms, knees the size of volleyballs (she also forced me to dance). So I am loathe to ask for any soothing, my remaining family kind of still treats me this way, as though I got cancer on purpose so I'd get more attention. It's nuts, I know, but it's a nutty family.

So I'll stay quiet on Facebook, get what I can where I can. Pet the dogs. Make banana bread.

So who's already had Rads and what can I expect?

Just a quick question to all. Has anyone on the t/c treatment received a rash like a sunburn face, chest and arms. It looks like I have third degree burns. I went this am to get the Neulasta shot and the nurse said to use topical benadryl. Just want to know if anyone as experienced this side effect? The nurse said if it is not better by Monday to call the nurses station. She said I may need to take steroids. I hate those steroids I can't sleep and that is what gives me the restless leg syndrome. Up for any suggestions.

Hope everyone is having a restful weekend!!

Today is day 2 after my last treatment + I had the Neulasta shot today; I feel great.

With the other three nfusions, I already felt strange by this time.

I'm hoping to end chemo without side effects or bone pain.

Be Well!