Starting Chemo, November 2013 Group

one advantage to rads after chemo is you avoid radiation recall that can happen.  There is a time limit on getting chemo.  Perhaps it's not as urgent with rad because you zap the hell out of the area?

Paulette- I only have excessive tearing during my infusion but have a slightly runny bloody nose constantly. Glad I still have my nose hair!  Small blessings. LOL.  so enjoyed your posts this morning.

lusacm- I am able to work. I have chemo on Friday and returned the following tburs. So I take a week off but work the next 2. I'm usually very fatigued and in the bathroom with the big D for the first 5 or six days, then I'm great!

I havent even attempted to allow my head hair to grow yet. I keep it tight and bald. Figured it would be easier than having scraggles! For me it works for now!

My nose hairs were the first to go...I suspect the ears followed because it itches and hurts/aches sometimes!

My nethers were pretty much the last! I had a hitler for the longest time! My legs have here and there that pop up so I keep them shaved down too!

My brows and lashes have thinned. My hubby noticed it first when he called me an alien! Maybe they will come back a bit straighter this time! lol!

The runny eyes and nose......ick...I walk around with tissues. About 2weeks into cycle I look like I'm crying constantly! Sometimes when I wear my CL it helps. I guess it absorbs some of the tears and helps! 

Goodness.....it has been RAINY here yesterday and today.....constant drizzle. I really don't mind too much. Feel like the sky is representing how Im feeling sometimes!

Thanks Quirky....since I dont have anyone to talk to sometime it's nice to just talk about something to help think of happy thoughts! By writing it it allows me to share my heart and confirm to myself that this is only a temporary condition and life IS great and wonderful! It is important to keep our focus on even the smallest and simplist blessings of life! It is so easy to get wrapped up in the ICK that we forget!!!

I wish yall snowbabies could send me a little! I do miss it sooooooo much at this time of year. I know it can be a REAL PAIN in the fannie....just as our wretched hurricanes can! Some of those storms can pack just as big of a punch!!!

I slept ALL DAY yesterday and am trying to avoid my bed. If I get close to it I think I will crawl in and be CONSUMED by the sleeeeeeep monster!

wally....guys just dont get it sometimes! I say blue and he says NAVY! ARGH!

Wow Jab. I'm impressed!

Paulette, thanks for the flowers. I too had IORT, but I have to have 20 rads after chemo. Seems like hardly any of us have had IORT. I liked the option since it removed the boost doses, but I suspect it delayed my healing and was part of the cause of the "infection that would not heal."

Hair. I have a lot on my head, but only in the center going down the back. I'm not going to cut it again, so I'll see if it falls out or gives me a start on regrowing. I have lost 1/2 my eyelashes and eyebrows, but I still have all the white down all over my cheeks. 1/2 my arm hair and lady hair is gone and I don't have to shave my legs any more. Seems like a totally weird pattern, don'tcha think?

I've got a lovely taxotere rash on my chest with a bit on my chin. Yuck! I was totally down for the count for 6 days after tx #3. I'm back in the land of the living again now. Yesterday I went out with my H and S to a shopping center. I mostly sat, nursing a cup of tea, but getting out and putting make-up on so I didn't look quite so horrifying really did make me feel better. The "look good, feel better" program is actually right. The psychological boost of not looking like an alien makes a big difference!

I'm lucky that I don't have to go into work every day: as weak as I went into chemo it would have been impossible. As sick as I am from the chemo, I feel better than I did for the two months prior! I can work in bits from home and let most of my work slide. I'm laughably a "full-time" employee for medical insurance purposes, but I put in an average of 2-5 hours a week.

Okay, Amazon, woman of mystery. I know you're very private, but I hope you don't mind a guessing game of where in Europe you are from. Given your obvious fashion sense, French gets a vote. Given your desire for a level of anonymity, Swiss gets a vote. Your choice of Ontario for a home gives the cold Nordic countries a vote. That you've got a spectrum child give the British isles a vote. Hmmmm, clearly you remain an enigma!

I did a google map that shows the distribution of our group (okay, I'm a geek). If we were to try to get together, Texas is the most sorta central location with a major airport and less expensive flights. Missouri is kinda the midpoint, but it's less accessible. It's like New York is closer to San Francisco than Arkansas because it's a direct, inexpensive flight.

Does anyone else miss their brain? I've been trying to plan a trip east for my son's graduation and am finding logistics to be a missing skill. I'm an accountant, and I'm barely hanging in there doing what I have to do for our business. If I was still in public accounting it would be one sorry mess. I just can't think. I watch tv but can't manage books. Less important to me than when I get my hair back is when I get my brain back! I assume that rads, while it may cause fatigue, doesn't kill neurotransmitters like chemo. I'm really getting tired of being stupid!!!

how is everyone's blood counts doing!?

If your eyes are tearing a lot..... blame it on the Taxotere also known as "Taxo-Tears".  The tearing does diminish after you finish chemo.  The tears are just another one of those side effects that is annoying more than anything else.

audra, i get a sore throat from reflux when acidic stomach contents back up.  Hopefully the prilosec will help.  Diflucan makes me feel sick the first day but not real pain.  My oncologist told me taxotere has been known to cause bowel perforation so it is a nasty drug when it comes to gut SE.  I can't wait for you women to be done and start recovering from SE. 

I am almost 6 weeks past chemo and still feel nauseated and tired ( much milder than you guys) and am still losing hair and have rash all over head.  My GP

 Said it takes about 6 weeks to feel better.

By far the worst has been the stomach pain. I have gastropersis....which mean NOTHING MOVES without assistance. I am hating to eat anything....either nausea or just backed up. Im used to being at a stop but this is horrible. 

One more....I know I could quit at this point but would eternally question if I did. Without the Difulcan I would be 10000 worse with how my system is so PRO YEAST! 

Never had a cancer marker test????? That is a new one for me! 

I live on gaviscon, gas-x, ratididine and other tummy stuff. I burp and fart like a salior! Enough to clean the room of a 1000 men lately. What the heck did I eat to cause such a smell that even Febreese wont clear!!!!!! Something DIED up in me!!! OMG....and I though my puppy had bad gas!!!! Thankfully my hubby wears a BIPAP mask at night....but Im afraid Im gonna kill my animals!

Audra, I have been taking Prilosec every day since starting chemo.  It seems to be helping with the acid reflux.  I will continue to take it until I am finished.

I have had teary eyes and bloody nose all along.  And I haven't started the taxol portion yet.

As far as hair goes, I still have eyebrows and eyelashes.  Arm and leg hair is still there too, except not growing. It haven't had to shave my legs. Sparse hair down below.  I am hoping to keep my eyebrows but doubtful.

As far as blood counts are concerned, mine have been normal, except Monday MO said I was slightly anemic, but he wasn't worried about it.  

Today I still feel icky. A little jumpy with heart racing and cramps.  On the couch.

Hi all,

Global warming - HA! It was -27 deg here this morning, including wind chill - -35. We are getting the same storm tomorrow as you folks in NY tomorrow. Maybe some snowshoeing in my future if it warms up. Otherwise, I'm snuggling up with my dog by the fireplace!

Pat - if your thinking Nov Chemo Girls reunion, I beg that it be in a southern locale. Regarding BRAIN - I have none! I cant remember anything and generally in a fog. I am offically stupid!

Paulette Regarding tearing up - I've had it since the first infusion. I look like im about to cry most of the time. I was told the protocal that has been proven most effective is Chemo first then Rad. They want to get the chemo to you ASAP after surgery as it is systemic whereas the radiation is more localized. (this is in Canada). My Onc tells me in Canada we dont monitor tumor markers as they are not reliable for breast cancer. (I question this as obviously they are being used extensively in the US)

Audrea - I also had wicked stomach issues last infusion - So bad so I went to emerg where they also gave me Prilosec. I am now on Techa - It has done an amazing job - I can now eat, which has brought back my energy.

Amazon - Nice picture of the ice your way. I'd guess it was a picture of Hogtown?

I wish you all well on this winters day.

Oh, and for the Hockey fans in the crowd, Canada is going to win the junior worlds!

JAB

Audra,  try the Prilosec.  I don't have nausea but do have bad heartburn and Prilosec really makes a difference for me.

Global warming super HA! Im in FLorida and frezzing my patootie off!. Not that it is so cold but the wet rain is chillling me to the bone! I can NOT get warm! I finally figured out part is because of my naked head! lol.....I forget to cover it up...cause then I get hot! Regaredless....it has been rather chilly outside than norm!

Jab....this tearing is wacked! I feel like a slivering blidiot! Sniff snort! NOTHING stops it. I love the term Tamox tears!

Stormach issues.......Oh dont get me started! Every time worse! I though my baby Alien was gonna birth from me a few days ago...I was CONVINCED it was coming! OMG......wait...wait....wait....I think I see its head.....No....bummer not even a small burp or pffffffffffffffft....oh my....all that for nothing!

Reunion.....Ah I would LOVE to say FLorida! most of ya woulld love it! but....How bout like the mountains of NC!!!!

Ok whos the smartie out west! Audra....some parts of Tx are great....where are u!/ Not no mans land?

Arkansas is also VERY NICE!Ive traveled around alot and it depends on the time of year and local!!! The Ozarks in Ark and also like ......Tenn are ABSOLUTEY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

Oh, I will go anywhere, I was just volunteering as Patalameda said she had looked up where everyone was and that was central location.

I think it would be great to all meet in person....I wonder how many of us and at what length all of our hair would be??? 

or Vancouver!!!!  or Maine....or beck......somewhere in Europe! ok....one of us MUST have bucks who could help us needy ones......oh Bahamas.....or ....or...or...

wherever is great!