Starting Chemo in April 2014

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  • EverForward
    EverForward Member Posts: 242
    edited April 2014

    Shelley, you are remarkable. I admire your gusto. 

    Day 4 of my first chemo and the most serious SE is achiness. If this is as bad as it gets, I can't complain much. Trying to force myself to keep getting up and walking around. 

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  • HollyHope
    HollyHope Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2014

    Shelley - you look fab!! You should check with the ADA http://www.ada.gov/ada_intro.htm about your job situation.  I just don't think what's happening to you is right.  You do have an amazing attitude though. :-)

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  • SharonDe
    SharonDe Member Posts: 222
    edited April 2014

    ditto Shelley - hang in there!

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  • Kazzy115
    Kazzy115 Member Posts: 122
    edited April 2014

    Mikishelley - you are beautiful!   I like the pixie and am sure your next pic will be as lovely.  I love your spirit.  Enjoy the evening and a new day tomorrow.

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  • mikishelley
    mikishelley Member Posts: 83
    edited April 2014

    Ever, Holly, Sharon and Kazzy, It is you ladies who are amazing. Thanks again. We will all win no matter what. Our kind are unstoppable! 

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  • mikishelley
    mikishelley Member Posts: 83
    edited April 2014

    Ever -I had the worst leg cramps. My hubby, being the best man in the world, spent hours moving, rubbing, elevating or whatever he could do to stop my tears of pain. I am not looking forward to a re-run but it is what it is. So, my words of wisdom (as nieve (sp?) as they are) Accept all the help you can get, go to as many support groups as possible and always take one day at a time. We all have to remember that although we are in for the long haul we must cherish today because tomorrow is not promised. Chin up ladies we all have something to smile about RIGHT NOW!

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  • HollyHope
    HollyHope Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2014

    Shelley - I wish I could "like" your posts!!! :-)

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  • clarrn
    clarrn Member Posts: 557
    edited April 2014

    Ditto to the like button!  You are all such an inspiration to me.   Shaved my head today and had a good cry.   Husband is amazing as always and tells me that I am even more beautiful.   (I think it might be the dexamethasone flush and swelling ridding me of wrinkles...lol)  What a great support system we have here ladies!  The 

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  • mmtagirl
    mmtagirl Member Posts: 509
    edited April 2014

    LIKE

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  • merg
    merg Member Posts: 61
    edited April 2014

    I am also starting chemo on April 29. I called The American Cancer Society & got a free wig. All I had to do was go there, fill out 1 page of paperwork & then pick it out & I was done. This was a great experience. My hubby is unemployed now so this helped. But summer is coming & I think it'll be hot so I'm sure I'll wear the scarves more. 

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  • applepop
    applepop Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2014

    I am 14 days into first treatment. My hair starting coming out last night. I knew it was going to happen yet I still started to cry. 

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  • merg
    merg Member Posts: 61
    edited April 2014

    Awwww,, Hugs from a stranger.

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  • JanetP1507
    JanetP1507 Member Posts: 46
    edited April 2014

    Had my first chemo Thursday, felt pretty good Friday but yesterday I felt like I got ran over by a truck! Queasy, achy, exhausted, flu-like. Feeling better today but still tired. But if this is as bad as it gets then I consider myself lucky! :) 

    Shelley, I'm with the others, that's just wrong!! Fight them if you can! :) And your hair is so cute!!

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  • mikishelley
    mikishelley Member Posts: 83
    edited April 2014

    To all my sisters out there who are loosing their hair - Cry!!!!! You are supposed to. We are loosing something very dear to us. In some ways loosing our hair is harder than loosing our breasts (if applicable). We all need to remember that this entire experience has its ups and downs. Stress is the worst thing for all of us. Let your emotions out. Cry, hit your pillows, scream if you need to. You will feel better once you have let it out. I try to go to yoga classes when possible. It is a wonderfully relaxing thing to do. If you have not tried it maybe give one class a chance. And never forget we are all here for each other. I know I could not go through this experience without each and every one of you. 

    P.S. posting my shaved head pic soon. 

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  • mikishelley
    mikishelley Member Posts: 83
    edited April 2014

    Embracing the new look! I even went shopping today without a hat or scarf. People didn't stare and actually seemed nicer than usual. I did not feel as if anyone felt sorry for me. I felt empowered going out in my natural state!

    image , 

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  • SharonDe
    SharonDe Member Posts: 222
    edited April 2014

    You are a Rock Star, Shelley!  

    Day 4 here - general aches and pains but not too bad. Scalp feels funny but doesn't hurt.

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  • Longislandl8y
    Longislandl8y Member Posts: 145
    edited April 2014

    Mikishelley - you look badass & beautiful! That's a look you might consider keeping even after the hair grows back!

    Just made a huge fruit salad as I begin the 48 hour pre-Chemo diet I saw recommended on here.  Will let you all know during the week if I feel it makes a difference with SEs or not. 

    Merg - just shouted out to you on the Exercise board.  Tomorrow is my 2nd chemo.  You might want to buy some crackers and bland white foods for the first few days.  I found that I could really only stomach starchy, bland foods first few days out.  And try and keep something in your stomach since the nausea tended to kick up more when my stomach was empty.  I wish you the best on Tuesday, and just remember I'll be in the chair as well that day!

    Enjoy the rest of the day, ladies.  Hope you're all feeling well and happy :)

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  • Swissmiss
    Swissmiss Member Posts: 111
    edited April 2014

    You look beautiful!  I admire your confidence going out...I only wish I was as strong as you.  My hair started falling out the day after my second chemotherapy (just this last Wednesday).  I've been in tears every day, and I still don't have the guts to shave it off.  My eleven year old son pointed out that I'm leaving a trail of hair throughout the house :(  I feel silly in the hats I purchased, and I'm just not excited about the wig I purchased (if only I realized I could have gotten it for free).  My goal is to be like you...just free and confident about how I look.  Thanks for posting!

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  • Mompv
    Mompv Member Posts: 110
    edited April 2014

    image

    Ok . Here's my pixie! I did  mine early as I have surgery May 12th and chemo 2 weeks after.  They were going to do chemo first but turns out I was triple neg, and I chose to get it out  now. Anyway I figure this way it will be easier for after surgery and it will give me a chance to get used to it short before it's gone. 

    You are all  such strong women!  Thank you for sharing your experiences the good and bad. I feel a bit more prepared. I do have one question , what kind of bra did you all wear after a lumpectomy?

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  • applepop
    applepop Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2014

    Mikishelley- you are beautiful. I am not even brave enough to shave my hair yet. My five year old is having a time with the thought of me being bald. He told me to please go get a wig. I have bad acne since chemo. That makes the whole bald thing seem worse to me. Is anyone else breaking out?

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  • applepop
    applepop Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2014

    Swissmiss- It seems you feel alot like I do. 

    Mompv- your hair is really cute.

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  • Blueberry4
    Blueberry4 Member Posts: 98
    edited April 2014
    Hi all, I havent been on since my first infusion of AC last Tuesday.  Welcome new people!  I felt pretty weird and tired Wednesday and then Thursday I was just sick.  I felt awful even with the anti nausea meds.  But my MO called to check on me like an angel in a white coat and suggested I come in for IV fluids and IV nausea meds.  So Friday I did.  By that afternoon I felt so much better. And today, Sunday, I feel almost myself.  We took the kids to the park and went for a long walk in the spring sunshine.  

    Thank you so much for continuing to post pictures. You ladies are rocking the pixie and the bald.  Your strength and courage inspires me.  Here's the pixie I got Monday.  

    image

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  • ColdInCanada
    ColdInCanada Member Posts: 95
    edited April 2014

    Hello Ladies,

    After Round 2 on Friday, I am now mostly SLEEPY. I have slept and slept and slept...and my Mom-in-Law won't let me go walking or anything (trying to keep me out of the hospital this round), which is not helping with the nausea or the fatigue (I know she means well. I DO). And the nausea is a little more pronounced this time. I am, however, SO THANKFUL that my Mom-in-Law is here to watch over my babies while I sleep and rest and get through everything I need to get through. Chemo really SUCKS, you know?

    mikishelley: You are my hero! You are rocking the shaved head! 

    Mompv & Blueberry: The pixie cuts are ADORABLE. MAN, the April group is just FULL of beautiful women, isn't it? ;)

    applepop: I had a terrible break-out about 2 days after Round 1. It started off as red bumps, which quickly turned to white heads, which quickly "burst" themselves. They were itchy and painful and I was covered in them from my head to my neck to my chest and back. AWFUL. Turns out it was a reaction to the Taxotere and, because I also had some shortness of breath and some serious "zapping pain", my oncologist has added Claritan and Zantac to my drug regime. I ended up needed a steroid cream to clear up the rash/acne, and I still have some scarring that I hope will eventually fade. I would definitely mention it to your MO, just in case. 

    Ladies: The HAIR. Logically, we tell ourselves: "Oh, it's just hair. No big deal." But emotionally, it's our HAIR. OUR HAIR. Sending hugs to all of you who are in THAT PLACE of having to say good-bye. 

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  • applepop
    applepop Member Posts: 16
    edited April 2014

    Thank you ColdInCanada for your reply. My bumps do not itch, but the do look aweful. I will talk to my MO. It looks as if we are on the same regimen. I have not had a mastectomy yet. Trying to see if the tumor will shrink first. I kinda just want this cancer out of me now. 

    Good wishes to all the ladies here. 

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  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited April 2014

    I had the rash with TCH last time. I only had it for round 1 & 2 and then it didn't come back after the next 4. 

    So I officially start AC tomorrow. I am not sure what to expect but I am happy that AC doesn't require decadron (aka dread a dron). It is going to seem odd sitting back in the chair after 5 years. :(. Not something I want to do but I am going to count my current blessings and get it done. I mapped out my infusions as long as I stay on the plan I will be finished chemo mid September.   I just dread the looks of pity. :(. 

    So tomorrow I will order the hats and hair piece that I need and just keep powering thru things. Day 1 of 126 is tomorrow. I remember what my pops used to say the hardest part with some things is just getting there. 

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  • LovebeingNana
    LovebeingNana Member Posts: 134
    edited April 2014

    Cold - I am glad so far this round is going better. I hope you get lots of rest and each day is better with NO big issues for you!!

    Mompv & blueberry - you look so beautiful. This coming week is my week to say goodbye to my hair. I had such a cool thing happen yesterday. I was on the phone with my first cousin who is also recovering from BMX for breast cancer. We were talking about the needed moments when you just let out the tears. She said "Aunt Elaine told me a saying our Nana used to use all the time do you know what it is?" I said no (I was 2 when she died.) She was single Mom to 12 kids, one of which was my Dad, and she used to say "Go ahead and cry for 15 minutes and then go get yourself a new hat."  Hats back in her day were a must - she always had one on so it was like a treat to go get a new hat. While we were on the phone, a hat I ordered from Etsy arrived.  Great moment. :)

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  • SharonDe
    SharonDe Member Posts: 222
    edited April 2014

    Good Morning, April Beauties.  Mompv and Blurberry - you are looking sweet in your pixies.

    Swissmiss and applepop - I'm nervous about the whole hair thing too.  I really admire the gals who are right out there with the bald.  They are an inspiration.

    Really nice moment with your cousin, Nana.

    Day 5 here.  FINALLY got a good sleep last night.  My MO did not want to prescribe Ativan or anything else for sleep (don't know why), so I finally took a couple of Advil PM and that helped.  

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  • Sunshine36
    Sunshine36 Member Posts: 88
    edited April 2014

    Ahh ladies I chickened out from buzzing my hair this weekend. Round 2 is on thursday, my hair is coming out by the handfuls,  but I don't know why I am so scared sh*less about taking the plunge and just buzzing it. I want to be in control, but this last step about hair really scares me. Grrrrr. 

    I admire you ALL so much. I draw so much courage from you guys. 

    Xoxo jen 

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  • linda505
    linda505 Member Posts: 847
    edited April 2014

    Well my sisters - tomorrow is my first chemo - had to go get the steriods and start taking them today  - they made me cry.   I don't think it is the steriods it is the thought of what that means.  Can't say I am not frightened - I am - but thanks to all of you and all your posts and courage - I know I can do it too!!  

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  • Sunshine36
    Sunshine36 Member Posts: 88
    edited April 2014

    Good luck Linda (((hugs)))

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