Starting Chemo in April 2014
Comments
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Even before my diagnosis I started living a very healthy lifestyle. As I became educated on the dangers of pesticides, microwaves, Teflon coated pans, and different chemicals in our foods, cosmetics, cleaning products, etc. I began changing the way I eat and live. As a result I began making my own toothpaste; and I'm betting it will help keep mouth sores away. It is simply a mixture of coconut oil, baking soda & peppermint oil. I also have an herbal mouth rinse which my dentist recommends in a regular way for mouth/gum health. I am convinced that the world we live in is responsible for our cancers. It is unfortunate, but I have renewed hope as it seems each day more and more stores and companies are creating and selling organic and all natural products. This gives me great hope for future generations.
ANYWAY, Cold you look stunning as a bald woman!!! You are such an inspiration to everyone here!
Happy Easter ladies!
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One more thing I've been meaning to mention is that in case your MO didn't tell you, we need to stay out of the sun while on chemo. My hubby actually asked which is the only reason I knew. We are much more sensitive to UV rays while on chemo. I got some UPF clothing and a hat for my gardening & 60+ sunscreen...
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Awww, thanks Ladies for all your lovely compliments on my new look.
I gotta tell you all, Bald is not at all scary or worrisome or sad or ANYTHING negative at all. My husband and children have told me not to bother with hats in the house because "you actually look pretty cool, Mom." Of course, it's still COLD here in Canada, so hats are a must for now, but once summer hits, I'll have my own built-in air conditioning. Blueberry: I hope you *love* your new pixie cut as much as I did mine. It's actually pretty fun to try something completely and totally new. I can't wait to see pictures!
HollyHope: No oncotype test for me. Here in Alberta, Canada, it's not covered by health care or insurance, so I think I'd have to pay out of pocket. Chemo, for me, was a must because my IDC was HER2+. My MO was sad about having to recommend it, but happy that he could confidently say CURE.
Longislandl8y: YES to going toxin-free. My daughter has terrible eczema, so we started using organic skin care products a few months ago. Once I started looking into what we were using before I was SHOCKED at how many ingredients are skin irritants and "potential carcinogens". I agree with your comment that "the world we live in is responsible for our cancers". Thanks for the recipe for toothpaste - my son suffers from terrible canker sores and I have been searching high and low for a sulfate-free toothpaste with no luck. I'll be trying your creation out ASAP.
Happy Easter all. Hugs and prayers and healing thoughts sent your way!
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Lemonade, they can't use your port for radioactive isotopes; I've had two PET and one MUGA scan, and that's what the techs tell me each time.
Good luck!
Carol
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Hey Cold, you can follow this link to get the recipe for the toothpaste: http://homegrownandhealthy.com/homemade-toothpaste/
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Thank you Carol ..... I had better hydrate REALLY well and try to stay warm then ... can't use the left arm due to lymphedema risk and they always have trouble accessing a vein regardless of the arm anyway. Took 3 IV specialists 30 minutes the last time I had an MRI. And that was after me drinking what seemed like gallons of water the day before, keeping my winter coat on until the last possible minute and the nurses packing the crooks of my arms and the tops of my hands with hot packs. Was really hoping to use the port!!!
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Hi Ladies,
I'm starting chemo Thursday, April 24th. For my situation, my docs felt I'd benefit more from chemo prior to surgery. My doctor gave me a port this past Tuesday. I'm really nervous about the chemo! They sit there and tell you could possibly experience all these side effects and it's just...scary! I'm hoping mine won't be too bad. The hair thing is killing me too though! I plan to go to visit the resource center at my oncology site sometime this week or next week to discuss the wig situation, I'm just not entirely sure what to expect and when to get the wig and head coverings. It's nice being able to come here and talk to others are going through it (or have already gone through it). Wish me luck!
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There's the new haircut, and I love it
Too bad it will only be here for a few more tingly scalp days before it falls out. It felt so freeing to cut it. I smiled through the whole thing and my almost 3 year old watched and kept telling everyone around me that it was all going to fall out soon. We had a blast! -
Janet:
My doctor too is doing chemo first. I see her tomorrow with MRI and final pathology results. After that I see the MO and get everything going! I too am nervous about the SE but have read a lot of good advice here. Good luck with your first day!
Cold:
You do rock the bald look! Thank you for sharing all your ups and downs. Your sense of humor makes this easier. I am going next Saturday for my pixie cut. Probably very soon but I want to get used to hardly any hair before it falls out😁
Thank you to the rest of you for your stories! It really does help.
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cute haircut clarrn!
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Very cute haircut, clarnn!
Janet - will be thinking of you on Thursday.
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Ok - my turn - prechemo Pixi cut
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Clarm - love yours - you have such nice thick hair - mine is already so thin that I am afraid I will be one of those to not get it back
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Your short cuts all look so cute!!! Wondering if I should go ahead and get a short cut next weekend too? hmmm.
thanks for the well wishes, My friend is coming with me to my first chemo Thursday and I'm hoping I'll be able to go alone after that if I don't have any negative reaction to it, I live less than 10 mins from the treatment facility. I'm sure once I've gotten through the first one and know what to expect I'll be fine.
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I agree - everyone is rocking the pixie cut. Getting mine next weekend, but not sure my hair will cooperate :-)
Janet ... My first one is Tuesday and hubby will drive me to and from. Hoping I can drive myself for the chemo and neulasta shots the next day as well. I am only 10-15 minutes away and a gal that I know who went through this 4 years ago thought that I would be able to do it. I agree - once I go through it once, I will know what to expect.
Today I feel very hopeful. I had two surgeries in 2-1/2 weeks and have felt like I had very little energy. Last night and today I am starting to feel more like myself ... But am going to be careful to not overdo!
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I brought hubs with me to my first infusion in case of side effects or reactions but now know that I too will complete the remaining 5 on my own. Unless of course the SEs get worse each time which is a possibility. In that case I might need him for the last couple.
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Hi ladies,
Just wanted to check in and let you all know that you all look fantastic with short hair. Cold-you really rock the bald look! I really hit a brick wall yesterday. Horrible SE's. You all know. I have zero energy and am sleeping most of the time. Cancer sucks.
I want to wish a Happy Easter to all who celebrate. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs to all, lilyrose
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Hi,
I'm not getting neulesta shots until my last 4 treatments during which my oncologist will bump me from weekly tax to biweekly higher dosage stuff (it's written down just can't remember right now) to be followed the next day by a neulesta shot. I'm hoping I'll be ok to go by myself up until then, at least, especially since the facility is about an 8 minute drive from where I live. You all give me hope and encouragment, thank you!
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Don't overdo it, ladies, but I drove myself to all my chemo, both of my Neulastra shots, and all my rads without any problem. I live about five minutes from the treatment center, so that helped immensely.
Good luck to all of you. May your treatments be easy.
Carol
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Good to know it's possible to drive back and forth on your own for infusions.
Got my first "Chemo-Beanie". Here's a progression for me:
1) selfie at the surgeon's office - it's all starting to get real
2) on the radiation table (didn't hurt, but had a cold and was really tired)
3) after first haircut - pixie to come in a couple weeks
4) checking out the chemo-beanie ...
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Ooooh, LADIES, the pixie cut is IN!
clarrn & linda: ADORABLE. Seriously, you both look so chic and sophisticated with the short hair! *LOVE*
MakeLemonade: I can't wait to see a picture of your new do!
lilyrose: Hang in there. As your white blood count drops, so does your energy. So do exactly what you're doing and rest, rest, rest! Keep an eye on your temperature too, just in case. I know that at your lowest point you feel like you're never getting out of THAT PLACE, but you WILL. I promise.
JanetP: Chemo Day itself is pretty boring. Really. The oncologist told me NOT to drive myself to and from because (and I quote) "you will be so full of drugs that driving wouldn't be safe". But honestly, I felt FINE at the end of the day. I found that it was during the "After" that I really needed someone around to help me out, and that's really only because I have two children at home, and all I felt like doing was sleeping.
Sharon: The chemo beanie is beautiful! You look gorgeous.
I am nearing the end of my antibiotics, THANK GOODNESS. They make me feel almost as bad as the chemo: nausea, stomach cramps, drowsy, and just all-around blah. Just one more dose today and one tomorrow morning, and then I get three whole days of feeling normal, and then back to chemo on Friday. Here's hoping Round 2 will go much more smoothly than Round 1!
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Good luck, SharonDe, from a potential May chemo lurker.
Love chemo beanie look.
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Clarrn and Linda, I love your pixie cuts! You look great!
Sharon, you rock the beanie! I ordered a bunch of hats and beanies too. They are pretty cute and very soft. It's making me feel more comfortable about the transition..
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I am totally getting a chemo beanie! Love the ruffled ones, just have to find someone here who sells them.
Linda-love your pixie too, everyone looks so good!
I feel amazing today, braved the crowd to go too the Easter musical at church and it was so worth it. I love me a full choir in robes!! Renewed and inspired! Hand sanitizer and dodging hugs...lol.
Question : There are some cases of measles and whooping cough in my area and a lot of the kids in my daughter's nursery class are not vaccinated. My daughter has had all her shots, so am I paranoid by keeping her away from those kids because I am worried about what could be passed on to me? These moms also send the kids to nursery with colds all the time, and even had a chicken pox party once. I just feel unprotected right now with the chemo, am I crazy?
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Weren't you immunized as a kid, clarrn?
Carol
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Happy Easter everyone! Today is day 13 and there still isn't anything going on with my head or hair. I have noticed that I'm not growing any new hair on my legs etc. as it's been several days since I last shaved. Also, there were a few strays in my eyebrows that I plucked that came out a bit too easily without the normal sting, so I'm sure it's coming soon.
Blueberry: thank you for sharing your oncotype score. I am scared of it still even though my MO said it is absolutely a range they see.
Below is the link for the organization I'm donating my hair to. It's been highlighted and color treated. They prefer non-chemically treated hair 8 inches or longer, but will accept any in good condition.
http://www.childrenwithhairloss.us/donate-your-hai...
Below is a link I came across for some super cute hats and they are so SOFT and comfortable. I ordered the gray one and it is well worth the price and came super fast.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/GypsyLoveHeadbands?section_id=7321667&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3
Here is a picture of my Tuesday haircut that I am becoming more used to and not as sad about.
You other beautiful ladies inspired me to post is as I think you all look fantastic. I feel like this is such a great supportive group of ladies even though we just 'met'. I am grateful for you all!
Holly
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Clarrn and Linda - you both look adorable!!!! You guys totally rock a pixie cut!!!! My pixie didn't turn quite out like I imagine.... but oh well!
Ugh just when I thought I had turned the corner after round 1, I ended up in the er yesterday. Fever - pain in my mouth and sinuses. Ended up having sinus infection (thankfully nothing more serious after endless amounts of blood draws, urines, chest xray, etc). And I developed the most aweful mouth sores. In my mouth and throat and it super sucks
got a script for "magic mouthwash" that is a lidocaine mixed rinse I can do 4x a day. It completley number mouth and throat but only lasts a short time. Other than that just salt water rinsed throughout the day and waiting for them to heal. antibiotic for the sinuses and tylenol has been taking the edge off for sure.I had a super sad cry fest today - the emotions got the best of me and I just couldn't stop. In the end, it felt good to just have a good cry.
Next round is may1st - just gotta get myself better and the wbc counts good.
Happy easter everyone :-) (sorry for the vent - its been a long weekend)
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Holly, you look fabulous!! I can only hope mine turns out half as good as the rest of you ladies!
Sunshine - sorry you had a set back - get better soon!
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Holly you look beautiful! So cute.
Sunshine I am so sorry about this set back. That is so frustrating. I am on day 4 and still have a headache and random pains just every where. I hope you start to feel better soon though.
It's so good to see some of you say you start feeling better before next round. I am getting so frustrated with feeling so bad.
Here's my haircut
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I am joining in the topic here, as I began a 12 week series of Taxol on 4/6. Its my first experience of chemo, although I have had early stage bc twice before this. You all have a lot of guts and strength, and its great to hear the banter and wit here, as well. Sunshine, I so hope you feel better soon, as this kind of health detour during treatment can take the stuffing right out of you. I am a big fan of feeling what you feel when you feel it, and if there ever were a situation in which I would feel grief and pain, this is it. I think its miraculous that we aren't all sobbing, 24/7!
I was diagnosed with mets to my eye on 4/4, and then, still thinking they had misdiagnosed me, had two weeks of tests and procedures. On 4/14 my husband and I were told that there were also mets to my spine, hip, lungs and lymph nodes near the sternum. Up to that point, I was feeling fine and just having some vision problems that I thought were a torn retina.
So now, after several minor procedures, two chemo's, and many tests, I am wiped out physically and emotionally. All I have done since diagnosis is go to the hospital almost every day, and get home to hide out in what feels like my safety zone. I feel so vulnerable with that hair loss coming on, but like you ladies, have had a cut and am ready for the shift to scarves and a wig, sort of! I am looking forward to feeling more rested and durable, although with more chemo on the way, I might not be bouncing back too quickly. Its so helpful to read and write to a group of others who are in the same kind of treatments and feel similar feelings.
Big hugs to all, Mame
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