September 2013 Chemo Group

positive negative...I'm so sorry. Stay strong, we are here for you.

mankato- So very happy for you!!!!!!! I hope your side effects are few!

positivenegative- I am so sorry to hear about your scan results. We are here for you. Damn breast cancer.

hockeymommy- I laughed too . I laughed with you though because I often forget I am bald and it is only a matter of time before I do the same thing.

Positivenegative

I am so sad reading your post...hang in there Honey.

Mankatostate: Hooray for joining me in the finished chemo corner!! I am so glad it's over. There truly is light at the end of the tunnel. I am feeling more like myself daily. As more of you cross the end of chemo line, I will be so happy for you too!

Hockeymommy: Thank you for sharing that story about your hot flash emergency! I'm definitely in chemopause and definitely having hot flashes. It is weird since I've been cold my whole life. Sudden sweats then cold now is weird. Dressing in layers is the best option. But there is nothing like a wig to trap heat! And you can't exactly rip that off without causing a panic, at least in the grocery store.

Everyone, please wish me well because on Friday this poet is coming out! Funny, I pretty much forget now its there. Let you all know how that goes.

2nd session done oct17!! Nuelesta kickin my butt!! It's crazy joint pain!! I didn't get nuelesta the first time.. So now I know how it feels like- I have tingly fingers n tongue. I hope everyone is doing well- I attended the walk and it was a special n meaningful event of this journey!!

I've been home to stay away from germs- avoiding to get sick-

I use salese for dry mouth. I'm on taxotere- I still have my tube to drain gall bladder and will be changed this Thursday

At least I'm home and not at the hospital this time.

I'm curios about everyone's diet? What are you eating? Have you changed anything? I'm still torn about what to eat and what not to eat?;-)

Lengbong - my main staples have been poached egg on toast, chicken noodle soup on icky days. On good days anything goes.

Had lab today, white cells still high. Don't know why.

Chemo #3 tomorrow 8:45am. Will have to leave @ 7:15. Hate early morning as I have to force feed myself breakfast to take meds.

Haha, I totally thought my chemo brain missed a post about poetry?!

And yes, let's please keep up the toe hair experiment KBee, no shaving for you!

LisaSP, hahaha. I too thought "poet" was a metaphor for something else. Like you were going to go wigless and just let your baldness hang out. It didn't occur to me it was a port.... and I too can't WAIT for the day that thing comes out. I detest it. Bring it on January!

Kbee- you made me look. Yep. I've still go toe hair too. LOL! And for what its worth, my eyebrows and lashes are holding strong.

Charger-I'm with you. On days I feel good? Anything I can put in my mouth is perfect. I've given up the war on the weight gain. I can tell my metabolism is literally in the trash can. I've never put on belly fat this quickly before in my life. Good thing I wear yoga pants to work.

Lol Lisa I was waiting for some special poem about surviving chemo. I can relate to you getting your port out. Thst was one of my questions for the doc when I saw him for my last chemo session on Monday. I was told they may want me to wait until after radiation because it will heal slower and could delay radiation.

I can't sleep well tonight. I have hives up and down my arms and some on legs. Went to the ER today for a couple of breathing treatments. Told to keep taking benadryl. Right about the 4 hr mark I start itching for an hour or so. Then they go away only yo come back in a few hours. I am so glad this is my last cheno, my allergic reaction seems worse each time.

Since a couple ppl are done with chemo & bec. I'm in a strangely positive mood, how about a little poll of SEs we *didn't* get? (Or haven't gotten yet, fingers crossed Of all the ones you expected or heard about, what have you not experienced, no matter how small?

I'll start -- I haven't had any nail problems (& no icing) & no mouth sores (again, no ice). And I haven't really had hot flashes yet (maybe a little warmer when I sleep), I'm mostly a bit cold from not having hair so I'm always wearing sweaters even tho fall temps haven't much started around here. Got a lot of other SEs that suck, but I'm counting myself lucky not to have every last one, LOL.

LisaSP - LOL at the "poet". That's a much nicer word for something that's really annoying! I call mine "the alien". Good luck on Friday getting it out!

Kbeee - Thanks for the laugh. Good to know your toe hairs are staying strong in the face of chemo!

Lengbong - Are you taking Claritin? When you get Neulasta, you should take Claritin every day starting on chemo day for the next 5-7 at least. It helps immensely with the bone pain.

Millsy - I'm with you on the hair thing. I'm not totally bald, which really surprises me after four AC treatments. I still have some in the back, a tiny bit of banks, wisps all over... I look ridiculous. It's nice, though, to be able to wear my scarf or bandana and have a little bit of hair poking out beneath it, though. CONGRATS on the fundraiser! That's amazing.

Peacockgirl - I'm with you on the weight thing. I try to walk when I can, but don't really have energy to exercise more than that, and between the nausea days and the yucky chemo mouth, I pretty much eat whatever I can find that tastes good. Not exactly watching my diet these days.

Well, tomorrow is my first of four taxol treatments. I feel like a chemo rookie all over again since I have no clue how my body will react. I pretty much had the routine down after each AC because it was the same every time. Now it's a whole new ball game. My MO was on vacation last week, so they schedule me for an office visit tomorrow before chemo. Aren't I lucky. I get to spend the whole day there probably. I'm bringing a small cooler with frozen peas so I can ice my fingers and toes.... I don't know what I'm more afraid of, neuropathy or my nails turning black and falling off!!!!! Neither one sounds fun. LOL

LisaSP, I was waiting for a poem too!!!!! I did not even think port. But now you got me thinking...maybe we need a few poems about this stuff...ok...here goes....

It started with a lump,

the biopsy made me jump,

they took my boobs, replaced them with foobs,

in the road of life....just a bump.

This chemo really blows,

I guess that's just how it goes,

it makes me wired,

then makes me tired,

and gives me a drippy nose.

That chemo sucks is not a lie,

Constipation and diarrhea, oh my!

without a doubt,

my hair fell out,

but it'll be worth it if the cancer cells die.

OK...I'm not a poet, but I am sure some of you are, so post some of your own. I will stop procrastinating now, and go domlaundry.

Lol Kbee. Thanks for the laugh.

I'd like to join the poll - SE I haven't had.

No diahorrea, limb pain, finger nail issues, chemo brain, chemopause, neuropathy, vision issues, dehydration. Actually ive been lucky and this time round have only had 1 day of SE. Gosh I hope I don't jinx myself. I also don't have a port and ive been back at work a few hours each day.

I also don't have a poet but i'll give it a go

My husband found a dimple

it started that simple

so off to the doc

the surgeon and onc

for a poke, a cut, and a jab.

We sit at the chemo bar

with our cocktails and ice

our side effects and no hair,

its really not nice.

But we have each other

for support and a laugh

for now and forever

no matter where we are.

Have a good day/evening with minimal side effects everyone