Starting Chemo in December 2013

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited April 2014

    thanks Jodi!! Just kind of caught me off guard I guess. Hard to explain.  Funny how I blocked it out. I swore to my husband that they were hiding information from me. Ha ha. Glad he had the follow up recorded. Will discuss with RO this week. 

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  • kjfromca
    kjfromca Member Posts: 283
    edited April 2014

    Jodi - Have a fun time at the party today.  I am so glad to hear that donations are flowing your way.  It sounds like you have a community of great people.   Just an idea, what about vrbo for a short term rental?  Re my biol. dad, my mom told me about a month after my bc diagnoses.  It's actually really sad, she never told either of us.  I found out that we share the same birthday and he died at my age, 48.  That was a hard pill to swallow.... 

    Oranje_mama - Did you have curly hair before chemo?  Hoping your appt. went well today.  When is your surgery?

    My son has a track meet today, just found out... will have to deal with the insurance company tomorrow.  Dealing with insurance is like dealing with taxes 

    Rads is going by fast.  It takes longer to drive there and get dressed, than the actual time getting zapped.  One day a week they take xrays and I meet with the RO, those appts. are longer.   I have to lay in a position where my hands are over my head.  This is uncomfortable, especially on xray days.  My skin is getting a little red and itchy where my mx scars are.  I use Aloe Vera and Aquaphor.  So far that works.  No complaints yet.   I hear that most of the skin issues happen more at the at the end of treatment. 

    Have a great day ladies

    Kim

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited April 2014

    Jackieak

    Are you ready for tomorrow? Anyone else done tomorrow or Friday this week?

     18 more hours until done!  I need to take a picture of the beautiful cupcakes a friend made for me to take in. 

    Barbara

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  • jackieak
    jackieak Member Posts: 169
    edited April 2014

    Barbara, 

    Just did my blood draw, last time I will need to keep access to my port!  I am SO ready....my mom is making brownies and bars for the nurses and I will take some to my staff at work in the morning as well.

    Keeping port till next Thursday, then that comes out as well....then perm implants on June 6, I see an end in sight here....OH MY HOLY!!  ( what I say when I'm freaking excited)

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited April 2014

    cups cakes for tomorrow, my husband already begged for one, I will leave a few at home for him. Did I say my friend is a pasty chef. Chocolate covered strawberries in the bottom photo 

    image

    image

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  • J4DC
    J4DC Member Posts: 80
    edited April 2014

    Barbara, my last taxol will be this friday. I am so ready too! Wish you and jackie the best tomorrow! We came a long way. I can't believe it.

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  • J4DC
    J4DC Member Posts: 80
    edited April 2014

    yummy cupcakes and strawberries! 

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  • jackieak
    jackieak Member Posts: 169
    edited May 2014

    those are too pretty to eat!  Awesome

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited May 2014

    Barbara, Jackie, and J4 DC Congrats!! Happy dance for y'all!! 

    Barbara- those cupcakes and strawberries look amazing!! Wow !! Your nurses will be super excited!!

    I PFC one week tomorrow. Can't believe it. Consulting tomorrow and Friday with ROs. See which one is the best fit. 

    Jodi - how was your party?

    DJJ- have you done your speech/walk yet?

    How do y'all feel about port scars? I have to keep mine in until I follow up with my MO in 2 weeks. I saw a funny video on The Breast Cancer Site that turned into a year jerker toward the end. Women showed their port scars and said they were a testament to what they survived. I thought that was an interesting take on it. 

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited May 2014

    unlike most of you I am not that anxious to get my port out.  I sort of consider it my good luck charm. It doesn't bother me  and I have a terrible time getting blood drawn otherwise,  I usually have to get stuck 2 or3 times for a regular blood draw.   Tomorrow when they access it for my last chemo they are using a non-ferrous port needle and leaving it hooked up for my MRI on Friday.  As long as it does not get in the way for Rads I think I will leave it in for a while, once a month I will need to get it flushed with heparin but that is no biggie. 

    Barbara

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  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2014

    yea for those finished this week!!! Let's get ready for an online party!! Lots of us are finished or finishing soon. That's so great.

    I'm 10 days PFC. Port out in 5/12. Saw RO today. CAT scan on 5/9 and simulation then will start 5/20 for 6 1/2 wks. He said it was ok to take 2-3 days off in June for our vacation to cape cod. Will still have to leave earlier than usual but at least able to go. He says rads should be no big deal after chemo. Slight redness, stay out of the sun (will get big floppy hat, 50spf sun screen, long sleeve SPF rash guard shirt) and also pools due to chlorine and prob ocean too(cape cod ocean temp is in the 50's in June so no problem there!). Just need to see and listen to the ocean! And feel the sand between my toes. It's healing for me

    This is moving along for all of us! Yipee. 

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  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited May 2014

    I love this!!

    image

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  • Jodi040812
    Jodi040812 Member Posts: 383
    edited May 2014

    party was good!  The kids look the same just bigger:). The moms were super happy to see me.  They have been worried, so me showing up meant a lot to them.  

    Barbara- those look unbelivable!!

    Snuffy nose is back one week after AC!  This is getting old:(. Flowers or chemo related?  Good luck to everyone finishing this week.  2 weeks to go for me.  

    Think we have decided on an apt. The vrbo was actually more expensive than the apt we were getting for $3000!  Everything was like $140-$400 a night!  These people are crazy!  Talk about taking advantage.  There are free places and cheaper places, but they are mostly reserved for children (Texas Children's) or a specific kind of cancer.  Breast cancer is not one of them.  They need a Pink House!!

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  • oranje_mama
    oranje_mama Member Posts: 260
    edited May 2014

    Congrats Barbara and Jackie!  Happy Day!

    Those cupcakes and strawberries look scrumptious.  Now I'm feeling bad that I didn't bring anything to my MO, but then, I've never seen anyone else do it either.  No bell there.  Of course, I'm not done yet anyway - I will keep going every 3 weeks for Herceptin through the rest of 2014.  So I still have my chance :)

    My hair was very straight pre-chemo.  Actually, this hair leftover/coming in looks pretty much like my baby hair.  Totally straight (standing up straight).  I was mostly bald until 2 years old, both of my DDs too.  I hope that doesn't mean it will take forever for my hair to grow back now.  I actually had very thick hair pre-chemo (fine/straight but thick).

    I am feeling very spoiled to have my choice of Rads in locations just 15-30 min from my house.  Glad that donations are coming in, Jodi.

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  • kjfromca
    kjfromca Member Posts: 283
    edited May 2014

    Barbara, Jackie & J4DC - Congratulations ladies

    Barbara - Those cupcakes are works of art! 

    Oranje_mama - Port scars - I will have to look for the video.  I was thinking about using some of that scar cream to see if it lightens up.  It looks like I was in a knife fight.  Kind of goes with my bad girl look .... just kidding.  My hair is slow growing too.  I am 7 weeks today PFC and it's coming in, slowly....

    Lisa - When are your going on your trip?  Sounds like a lot of fun.  

    Jodi - Glad you had a fun time at your party and that you found an apt. When do you start rads?

    Off to rads ladies - Have a great day

    Kim

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited May 2014


    wow, y'all have been busy!

    Barbara, those cupcakes look yummy! I think it's "support" abuse to post them online though:)!

    Congrats on all finishing this week! What a milestone.

    RO said I am doing well with my rads and TX. I only have 2 full and 8 boosts to go...

    good luck to everyone on their upcoming tests, scans, etc.

    Holli, I hope you find the right RO!

    Jodi, I think a Pink house is a great idea! I'm surprised you didn't find anything else less expensive. Make sure you keep track of your expenses for your income tax next year!

    oranje,I know what you mean about the hair...hurry up already!

    Enjoy the rest of the week ladies~

    Look how far we've come!!! Are we awesome or what?

     

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited May 2014

    image

    image

    pics of the Team. Now to start to work on those peaty 6 pounds I regained. That was not the best shirt to wear today. Makes me look fatter then I really am,  LOL. 

    Looking forward to hearing Jackie and J4DC are done. 

    Barbara

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited May 2014

    BTW when I read PFC. I use a different work for the F, not finishing but   F**king!  😇😈

    Set up for RT simulation 5/15.  Not sure when starting, I guess I will find out when I go. 

    Barbara 

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited May 2014

    Barbara, great pics! Congrats. I think PFC means post final chemo, but your version might be more suitable.

    I haven't lost 5 of my 9 lb weight gain yet...but, I have been walking more and eating less. I was hoping to lose it before my HT starts. Not sure if that will happen. MO says it will be harder after HT starts...thanks!

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  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2014

    Kim, port scar, now need a black Harley bandana and maybe some tattoos to,complete the look, right. Getting my port out 5/12 so I will be sporting the scar all summer visible with tanks, tshirts and bathing suits. I like the knife fight story, will have to git me some tats too! Anyone thinking of getting a BC, fighter, warrior (or whatever) tattoo after this crazy experience is over?  I know a lot of women have. Hmm I dont know what I think about that.

    Barbara, congrats on being done, woooo hoooo! You look beautiful. What's the flower with the ribbons mean? Any significance?

    My place didn't have a bell or anything to celebrate or acknowledge completing chemo. I'm thinking of getting a bell and donating it along with a framed poem that goes along with it.

    Kim, My vacation to cape cod is 6/13. It is only 5 1/2 hr drive form here. We've gone almost every year for the past 13 yrs. grew up on LI so the beach is part of me, but it has to be the ocean. Although also beautiful, lakes just don't do it for me.

    Barb, I always thought PFC also stood for "post f**king chemo" and was wondering why it was used so readily and in articles so I figured it was something else then I looked in the abbrev section and saw the real "polite" version. Ohhhh ok I thought!

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  • Mikesgirl17
    Mikesgirl17 Member Posts: 260
    edited May 2014

    Hi ladies. I just wanted to let you guys know how I'm dealing with radiation treatment. I have five left to go. My skin is starting to become very irritated. Very itchy and red. Peeling like a sunburn. My skin has always been sensitive however, so I hope the rest of you just get pink.  

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  • Jodi040812
    Jodi040812 Member Posts: 383
    edited May 2014

    mikesgirl- sorry about the skin but only 5 more to go!  

    Barbara- yeah!!!!!!!!  Congrats!

    Weight- what? 6 lbs that is nothing!!  I am up 15lbs:(. So, it is coming off PFC?  Good to hear.  I was probably too thin to begin with (90lbs) but I would like to lose 10 at least!  I need to fit in my pants for school in August.  Thinking my yoga pants aren't allowed lol!  

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  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited May 2014

    mikesgirl, what are you using for creams etc for the red area? They said they'd recommend aquaphor, aloe and also silvadene if needed. Want to have my arsenal of ideas if needed. I also have fair skin that burns easily and have lots of freckles from prior sunburns etc. Of course my breast area has never seen the sun so that area is white. Yiu have 5 left so that's good. How about the fatigue, how has that been? Can't be much worse than the chemo fatigue.

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  • RobinLK
    RobinLK Member Posts: 840
    edited May 2014

    Still on weekly Herceptin, but getting closer to the big girl dose. WBC up this week, one more week to keep an eye on it. Will be meeting with my RO on 5/5....

    Depending on number of tattoo markers will determine whether I remove them or incorporate into a tattoo. There is a place here in PHX area that removes the rad tattoos for cancer patients for free. I have pics saved on my phone for tats, now if I can only remember the name if the place that removes them. Forgot to bookmark it. 

    Tamixifen will be starting as soon as the pharmacy fills the scrip. 

    Congrats to all finishing this week!! 

    I have to admit, I thought it was not the polite definition for PFC....lol 

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited May 2014

    a friend who went with me to a couple of chemo sessions just stopped by with a huge bag of goodies from her and two other friends.  A  big bottle of wine, lots of Bert's Bees stuff including cuticle cream, foot creams and lip balms. A big bottle of CeraVe lotion that she said her husband used after his bone marrow transplant when he had extensive skin blistering. She said it should be very good for RT, no scent. Some Bath and Body works scented lotions for other areas, lots of Yardley soaps, some cookies and dark chocolate. Also a hand crocheted ( by her mother) prayer shaw that is a large triangle that can go  over your shoulder or as a lap blanket.   It felt like Christmas morning again.  Amazing how good friends can be. 

    Barbara

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  • Jodi040812
    Jodi040812 Member Posts: 383
    edited May 2014

    ladies- AC question!  Dose 3 8 days pass infusion...I can not taste anything!  I got a cold/allergy sinus thing yesterday.  Yes, I have been blowing my nose and all but no taste!  Is this it until last dose is out of my system?  Or could it be more exaggerated with the sinus issues.  Wth!  I drank a diet coke and only thing I tasted was the bubbles kind of trying to wake up my tongue,  I do not like this:(. Maybe I'll eat some things I don't like usually lol!  

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  • RobinLK
    RobinLK Member Posts: 840
    edited May 2014

    Toward the end of A/C salty or sour flavors were pretty much all I could taste.

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  • Mikesgirl17
    Mikesgirl17 Member Posts: 260
    edited May 2014

    Silvadene was just prescribed for me.  100% Aloe 2-3 times a day and Auqaphore.  I haven't experienced the expected fatigue.  Yesterday I just felt a little tired.  I feel the same today.

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited May 2014

    Jodi, I had some taste issue on AC that continued on taxol. Things like peanuts and almonds just taste like paste. I really can not wait to get rid of this dry mouth. I tried to eat a small pretzel the other day and almost choked on it and could not get it down without a drink of water.  

    Anyone PFingC getting their saliva back yet? 

    Mikes girl. Hope the Silvedene does the trick for you only a few more to go. 

    Barbara

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  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited May 2014

    robin do they increase the Herceptin dose slowly over time and then go to a longer interval between doses?   

    I know there is debate on when to start the hormone suppression In relation to RT my MO wants to start it while I am on RT, when I go back in 1 month.  Any one getting other opinions, like holding off starting until after RT?  I am all in favor of starting it ASAP. Keep starving those alien cells hiding out.  

    Barbara

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