October 2013 Chemotherapy

why no to soy protein? I am having whey protein every day, hope that's OK. I need to google blood builder ...

Lili, thanks a lot!

all of a sudden just want to have a good cry ...

Good night everyone

hi SpecialK, thank you soooo much for your tips. Yes, the pain is worst at hip and all along legs. Couldn't even stand or walk for short while. I wrote to my MO who is usually off on Wed. Nothing from her yet, How relieving to see your note. It made sense now. I decided to take 2 Tyrenol an hour earlier instead of 1 like this afternoon. My DH said 2 is actually the regular dosage. I felt relieved almost within 30 mins. So it worked! Got to spent a happy hour with my daughter reading and warm chats..... Both of us were happy when I tugged her to bed. Lesson learnt - don't fight the pain by trying to avoid the med (foolish me!). it's okay when we need it....better than to create all these unnecessary stress.......Jen

FYI, it is true that. Any MOs tell you to eat all foods. Remember they are not nutritionists and they might want to make you feel comfortable by thinking it is still your normal life. But if there is a way to prevent SE I would. So far not eating greasy fried food, spicy has helped.

At my first chemo they provided me with a number of literature, one. I guess is free from the ACS and the other is from the infusion center's nutritionist. Please ask if there is a nutritionist in the premises. You will have plenty of time to talk to him or her while the infusion.

As for the raw fruits and vegetables, they told me to eat fruits that have a hard skin like bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, plus they are a good source of fluids. Somebody mentioned, i think Vivian about using a 10th of dish soap and a 10th of bleach with water to rinse the thin skin fruits and vegetables. All is to prevent any type of bacteria digestion. This is a very good norm for everybody in our families and to add to our lives after this war. We don't want to get this again! I opted for: no more read meats, more smoothies and juices, add yoga to my schedule. Still working on that one because of my tight schedule...

Today I woke up fine, slept though the night except for my four stops to the ladies room. I have a little headache. Same as the day after the first chemo. I can now say I am half way through! Only two more to go! And PS said we can replace expanders for anatomic implants a month after the last chemo,if I don't need more expansions, yeeeh!

Good luck Thursday girls! One less to go!

Hope everyone is well!

SpecialK, your story of flat tires, being dropped off at the center by a cop and the tornado induced power failures did give me a chuckle. I'm in no way laughing at what you've had to go through, but sometimes we just gotta find the humor in what is otherwise a rough journey!

I'm feeling pretty good. I went for a follow-up check-up yesterday and my WBC was low. MO didn't seem to concerned and expected it to come up by next Wednesday in time for infusion #2. I've just been feeling dragged down the last couple of days, not sure if that is from the WBC or not. Feel a little better today!

My cancer center also recommended the salt and baking soda mouth rinse. I've had no trouble with mouth sores so far. I will start using the rinse as a pre-emptive strike a couple of days before #2.

Wishing everyone a good, SE-free day!

For anyone wondering about flu shots , this was posted at my Cancer hospital yesterday:

If your treatments are every 1 or 2 weeks, get your shot day before treatment.

If your treatments are every 3 or 4 weeks, get your shots 3 days before treatment.

SpecialK, you are very special indeed! I just read what happened to you. I hope you stayed home after all day! Today you might want to play the lotto, you might win!

What you just wrote is so true of what I feel and I think all of us think when sharing our cancer treatment, now obvious with no hair. All our friends and families have fears of all sorts. Sometimes age is a big one. Like my parents. I still haven't seen my mother. I don't want her to see me like this. I am usually doing a lot of charity events and raising money via fashion show, I am definitely not a model, but like to volunteer in all I can. For my parents to see me like this is very shocking. My dad and step mom had the hardest time the day of the surgery. They extended the time another three hours and they were calling my husband non stop with no more answer other than what the nurses told him: all is ok. My husband finally told me that story in tears. Too much stress for him having his parents with a lot of issues as well. It is like all happened at the same time.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE STRONG, not letting anything, not even a stupid cancer get in our way to help other people and make them live the life they deserve.

PS: just took a dexamethasone, oinc oinc! Hope it helps. I feel squeaky today.

headeast - I'm good - not to worry! I am taking it easy today, but going out to run some errands and then I will go to the Buc's/Panthers football game tonight. My DH was born and raised in Miami - he was in Miami Shores last weekend! One thing to remember about this experience is that the treatment part - with all its physical changes - does not last that long in the grand scheme of things. Your hair will grow back, you will resume your normal activities, and while you will be changed by this experience, life does return to a mostly normal state!

It is hard on family and friends to see someone they love go through this but don't deny them the opportunity to support you because you don't want to scare or worry them - it is important for them to feel connected to you and able to help you. Hopefully you will all come out the other side of this with even more appreciation for each other!

gia - glad to hear you are doing well!

Lots of information today. Thank you. I think I will get my flu shot this week.

Nicole do you have a "relationship" with your oncologist? There was a women in the bed next to me when I was in the hospital last time and her oncologist visited her often. I have only seen mine for 5 minutes at the end of the initial 2 hour visit where a resident doctor did everything. The next appointment I didn't see him at all but saw a resident who told me to not take Claritin and in fact chuckled at the idea. It is also impossible to contact the oncologist. You have to leave messages at the cancer agency and a nurse or counsellor calls back. I am kind of jealous of people who talk about asking their onc questions. I would especially like a long conversation at my next appointment where it will be determined whether I have chemo or not. I have a lot of questions and am already planning speeches in my head in response to their expected non response. The speeches aren't nice. Guess I should wait and see.

I took the bus to get the Blood Builder and the woman at the store (Finlandia in Vancouver) was very helpful and had tons of information. I will go back if I don't get chemo to see what I can do to minimize chances of recurrence.

I am hoping those getting their infusion today are doing ok and will have a good recovery from it. xoxo

Wrenn, I wouldn't like that type of treatment at all. It is not just you. We expect to be treated professionally, it is his job and seems he doesn't care about it. Can you talk to the social worker and tell about that and change doctors within the same team? I changed my whole group of doctors before getting into surgery, in fact, hospitals. I wasn't comfortable with an of them. No bedside manners. Maybe knowledge was good, but in moments like this we want the best and not to be relying on website members only.
lg, I got used to my scarves and hats. I am wearing scarves and a hat on top of them. With matching colors. I guess people are used to them because I usually wear hats. Try big earrings instead of small ones.
Nicole, my MO hasn't ordered Neupogen nor Neulasta for me. I am also on chemo 2. Had it yesterday. TC as well. Everybody is different.
70charger, thank you for your post. Yes, in fact my MO told me to get a flu shot the week before the chemo. My treatments are every 3 weeks.

Headeast I am going to bring it up at the next appointment. I think how our caregivers makes a huge difference with how we heal. Meeting my new family practice doc made me feel like I was getting strength just being around her.

Trudylary It sounds like you are handling chemo really well. I was told there would be a 30% change the cancer would come back if I didn't have chemo and 20% if I did chemo. I have read a lot about people with low stage cancers moving on the stage 4 not too long after chemo. It is scary.

thanks for the information. I was given the ok to juice and eat raw but only if I prepare it myself. I can't eat it out, nothing to do with the cancer itself but bacteria contamination.

Specialk you rock! I will get those reditabs for sure. I feel like I am prepared (kinda sorta) for my first infusion on the 31st. So far everything you've suggested has been ok'd with my oncologist.

Feel better to all who had an infusion.

lgkgde13, I can relate. I have only had 1 infusion and I am very fatigued. I don't know how people can work through all the treatments. I don't feel like doing anything.

Trudylary, good for you, finishing your 4th chemo. I can hardly wait until I get to that point.

SpecialK, that is a good way to look at things. You are an angel..