Starting Chemo in December 2013

hi everyone, just got caught up on all your posts.  I'm sorry for you that are suffering neuropathy, it sounds awful. 

Congrats to those finishing chemo!! I'm sorry to be general, I haven't logged on in a bit so I've read through quite a few pages.  I love all the pics!  There is def. a light that shines through-beautiful💜

WIFEWBC, I had nuelasta and took Claritin the day before, day of and day after, it helped with bone pain.  Also Ativan helped me with nausea.

I'm 7 weeks from my last treatment, I have some peach fuzz.  It's very light, I thought my hair was coming in blonde ( save me some $$ on highlights) but I guess we are all white in the beginning I'm channeling Billy Idol:)- here's a pic.

Carol

OMG .. Girls of chemo calendar !! I love it!! We should go for it!! 

Okay, I am going to watch GMA next week and check this lady out.  She must not be on AC.  

Carol - Nice to hear from you.  You look great.  I am starting to feel some stubble, but can't see it.  I hear that all hair grows in white at first then it will change to a color.  You look great by the way.

Mikesgirl - I had a little cry when I got home from my mapping appointment last week.  This all sucks.  What are you doing for deodorant?  I was told Tom's on weekends ok.  Are you using any creams yet?

Michelle - You missed the pink ribbon rant awhile back.  There are a lot of us who feel as you do.

Kim

also getting caught up on posts.

Mikesgirl- I've always said to myself that every tear shed leaves more room for strength to enter. So some of us just have to cry every now and then. Some more often than others...like me

I just ordered some Rosie the riveter tshirts from cafe press. One says fight like a girl and the other says kicking cancers ass. Want to wear to my last chemo. Also a baseball hat with "cancer picked the wrong diva"! Lol hope I like them when they come in

Carol, beautiful lady!

YES! Girls of chemo. Love it Robin!

Have had a good week.:-)  Last 2 days didn't even had to nap in the afternoon! That's until Monday, next chemo. Does anyone else get terrible anxiety the day before chemo? That's when I seem to cry the most. Its like Sunday evenings when I was a kid all over again- dreading the school week ahead, only worse.

I also liked robin Roberts. Not so sure about Amy. Will have to turn on gma next week just to see...so I can get pissed off too! No sugar coated cancer here. This is the real stuff right here on these forums. Someone should invite her to join.

I am amazed at how beautiful you all are, the eyes and mouths just pop!  A calendar would be awesome. 

It breaks my heart how young some are, I am 56, two daughters, 24 and 21.  My oldest lives in Houston, saw her at Christmas when I still had hair, she came in on Thursday and saw me bald.  An adjustment for her. Cracks me up that both have tried to brush their hair in my bathroom and are surprised not to find a brush.

I had dose 9 of weekly Taxol yesterday, riding the wide awake steroid train now.  I am counting down and telling everyone where I'm at.  But I am more tired, give out easily, legs are getting heavy, more skin issues.  I too have some emotional craziness, usually about day three after treatment.  They all just have to understand. So ready for this to be over on April 25th!  Then a 4 day vacation in Savannah courtesy of boyfriend

Met a survivor with some great suggestions for rads.  Buy the aloe leaves, scape out some pulp and put into food processor.  She said it is most effective for just a couple three days, keep in frig.  Store bought stuff is useless. And she said to start using it a day or two before rads.  She had to take a break due to burning.  She was 38 when dx with stage 0 DCIS, insurance wouldn't pay for her mammogram!  

WifeWBC, you were not a downer. I just can't imagine going through this with young kids to take care of. Or to even get this diagnosis so early in life. I am sure our perspectives on things are different due to differences in age.  I am looking forward to seeing my children marry, have children and careers.  And I will see this, I do have another 30 years or so to go, might have to beat down cancer again in that time though!

Both my parents have passed, I see some of you having to worry about yours at this time and my heart goes out to you.

I think the strength we all have shines through and makes us more beautiful.  I can see the light at the end of this tunnel and it is not a train.

robin-you express things so perfectly. I'm there with you girl! I have 2 more dd taxol left but still feels like eternity.

Chicopeach- I also have a24 yr old and 21 yr old but son and daughter. Daughter is graduating from college in may with a BA in speech therapy and will go on for her masters at nazareth college in the fall. Will be almost 4 weeks past my last chemo at that time so should be good to go! End of year swim banquet this Sunday also and looking forward to seeing daughter and all the kids that I have gotten to know for the past 4 years....will wear my wig so as not to draw attention to myself. Sometimes I am so self conscious I hate it. My daughter does like how I look in my scarves though. Shes a sweetheart, she has been calling me everyday just to see how i am. My 24 yr old son grad with a masters in mental health counseling this padt dec and is working in albany ny as a counselor with adult clients. Just have to boast...so proud of my kids. The age difference makes our perspective on our kids a little different but we all want to be there as long as possible for every milestone and life event

I'm done 4/21. A few of us are done on that week. Wish I could hug you all...but this will have to do {{{{{hugs}}}}}

WifeWBC- you'll both have up and down days. Just accept where you are at that moment. Relish the good days and accept the bad days because its all a normal part of going through this and getting to the end. You can't have the good without the bad.

RHGSR, I agree.  So much controversy on mamos, and insurance won't pay for screenings unless you are a certain age or have a very suspicious lump.  I'm one that had screenings since age 40, had some cysts aspirated, and I was told always clear, even though at the same time I was told I had very dense breasts.  Knowing what I know now, that means they couldn't see a damn thing having dense breasts, I should have insisted on an ultrasound or an MRI.  My BS says it's been there for at least two years, my lump popped up one morning where I could feel it then all hell broke loose.  I'm all for early detection, but do it right!  Mostly now I'm for the cure.

Diagnosed at age 50, but I've had it for years before that.  No woman, young or older should have to go through this with the technology we have.  My kids are 26 and 29, I've seen them each graduate college, now I want weddings and grand kids, and I want to enjoy the fruits of my labor, this is to be the prime of my life...and I have all intention of seeing it through.  

I believe each day science and medicine get closer to controlling this thing, but we do have to fight to make them do it, and we are owed answers to our questions.  They say breast feeding is best, I breast fed as well, but I too think it may be a trigger in some cases and needs to be looked at closely.

bluebonnet day as my kids call it

Lisaj514

I totally understand where you are coming from. I was the most anxious the day before my chemo treatment. I am done now and I have to keep reminding myself no more IV's, no more blood work, no more transfusions. Hang in there the anxiety is alot better when the chemo is done.

RHGSR those pictures are AMAZING!!!!!!!  Nothing like a field of Texas bluebonnets and such beautiful children as well!!! I am planning a move to McKinney, Texas when this is all said and done.......can't wait! 

I am going to have to scroll back through the posts and find the pink ribbon rants......I seriously thought I was the only one and worried I may offend somebody by saying anything but damn....it bugs the shit out of me! Show how it really is...show us that are living it and barely can get out of bed some days.....show us going through the surgeries.......show us going through the side effects of chemo....the tears.....Just show the reality along with those pretty pink ribbons.  We have this commercial on our tv here for our local hospital....its like this 20 year old and shows her working out, eating a salad, scheduling here mammogram......she says, "I'm my breast defense" .....wtf.  I hate that commercial.   

So I read everybody's post and i'm wondering if and why i have had no scans done.  I had all my stuff done at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN so know i was treated at one of the best in the country, so they must know what they are doing.....but how do i know it hasn't spread? My ca something or other blood "marker" that was talked about was low, so that could be....and when i had my mastectomy on November 7th, I had good clear margins etc etc, and when i went for my follow up they were very happy with a number of a tumor marker called Ki-67 was only a 5 out of 100.  But still, i guess its always in the back of my mind.  I have phantom symptoms....like i get a pain in my lower abdomen and think, oh god, its in my ovary now, or have pain in my back....oh god, its in my bones.....i get a headache.....oh god, its in my brain....i cough....now its in my lungs.  UGHHHHHHHHHH i just wonder if the constant worry ever goes away????? 

missy- a 5 on the ki67 is awesome.  They are not worried!!!  That number tells how aggressive your cancer is so yours is not  it seems.

Those of you that have had a lumpectomy.  Did your breast swell up?  After surgery they told me how to take care of the incision but nobody told me about the swishing/gurgling I would hear every time I moved yesterday.  It creeped me out, no swishing today.  But the entire breast is swollen and hard. 

Also am I supposed to be doing something to prevent lymphedema?  I asked before surgery and never got an answer.  Usually I would have asked these questions to my breast surgeon but since my surgery wasn't supposed to be until May I didn't see her after my chemo was postponed.

On a good note, it's been two weeks since my last chemo and I notice some difference in the neuropathy in my feet.  No pain when I'm sitting and I took the dogs for a walk and made it over a mile and could have probably gone a little further.  Way better then my 1/2 mile a week ago where I was in so much pain and had to stop.  Still not my five miles but it's moving in the right direction. 

Someone is definitely going to have to take me by gunpoint to resume chemo on April 25th  

DJJ- I had a complete axillary node dissection so I had a drain in pace for a week, longer then it should have been but it was over the Thanksgiving holiday.  I did not have a lot of swelling in the breast area but I had a fairly tight surgical bra on it for the first week.   Have you iced the area?   I would call you surgeon if the swelling does not start  go down by Monday, you have have a pocket of fluid collection.   If you only had one lymph node taken out you should not have any problems with lymphedema in  your arm. Good to hear your walking is better. Reminds me to go walk the dog now also.  

I just got back from dog photos at PetSmart  with the Easter Bunny to support Relay for Life.  Lots of events coming up, Bark for Life the end of April and Relay for Life in May.  I joined a  Relay group from the BC support group I go to now.  Nice that  some of the women are 10-30 year survivors as well as some Newbies like me.

Barbara

DJJ, nobody mentioned any preventative LE for me; I researched a little on my own. Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activity and  make sure you protect your hands, arms while working on something that may injure you...gardening, etc. , to avoid infection.  I haven't had any signs of LE, and don't have a sleeve or anything. I had 3 nodes removed. Maybe your MO can refer you to an LE specialist... As far as the LX, I had some minor redness and swelling for a few days, but don't remember hardening or major swelling. I had a follow up with BS one week later. I healed fine; I hope you do as well. There was an indentation for a little while when I lifted my arm, but other than my scar (that is fading), the appearance now is the same as pre-LX! I am kind of well-endowed. Glad your neuropathy is subsiding! Pretty soon, your hair will start growing...on to the good stuff!

Holli, love the pics! Your kids are adorable.

Missy, I had a PEM scan done right after DX,  prior to surgery. It is kind of like a mammo but more thorough and targets your breast and lymph nodes. My BS is a big advocate, but not that many Dr's use it. Had a CT scan of upper chest and neck bc my RO thought he felt something during an exam. Luckily, it was nothing. Insurance companies are reluctant to pay for something that is outside of the standard of care. I'm sure they don't think there is anything to be concerned about for you. Don't remember seeing that commercial, but that IS annoying!

I was always anxious the day before chemo TX, too. Now that I have started rads, it's just get in, get out, go home!  I hope my skin holds up.

Enjoy your week-end ladies!