Starting Chemo in April 2014

Still a bit left. The hair stylist said I should color the rest. But use ammonia free color.I didn't know I could do that. Anyone else color their short hair?

Very cute, merg !  I thought about coloring the short stuff, but never got around to it.  Go for it, if you have the energy.

Adding another to the great list of benefits for the hair free look:

- being able to say hello to your Dad (and Brother) when you look in the mirror

The resemblance, especially to my brother, was not so evident before.  Now, it's rather amazing.

Jhodro - Totally helpful.  If all you ladies can do it, so can I.  I was prepared for it, and cut my hair 1 week before chemo started.  Just been having a tough time finding the right wig.  I've decided I'm just going to have fun with this.  Found this little gem for less than $7.  Will be a fun weekend wig!

http://www.amazon.com/Cospiayland-layered-heat-res...

Football - You are awesome and made me smile :-)

Merg - I was considering dying my very dark, almost black hair a platinum blond or bright red for fun but have now run out of time.  I say go for it!

love the purple wig!  I want to get something funky too. So far I haven't worn my wig. It has sat on the stand that came with it since I got it last Thursday

Jhodro too funny!  I've noticed all sorts of bumps popping up on my head. Once the hair falls out I think I'm going to dress goth and see how people react. Black lipstick eyeliner and a bald head !!  Lol

Football, you're right. Bald girls do rock! I love it.

I'm not sure if it has been the same for other ladies here, but when the hair starts to go, it really goes fast.  I'm on AC, and my hair started to go on day17.  Within three days, my buzz cut was mostly gone.  At day 22, today, I just have a bit left.  

I'm doing the scarf hat thing.  Wigs would just be too hot in the Texas heat.  I got some cute things and watched a lot of you tube videos on scarf tying. It's different than I thought in order to get them secure.  I found a great product that I now love and want to share.  Have y'all heard of buffs?  They are tubes of light weight, seamless fabric that can be worn as head covers.  I ordered from Amazon, and they came today. There are different ways to tie and tuck them. Again  I learned on you tube. So far, they are much cooler than anything I have tried so far.

Makelemonade, my nadir numbers match yours, 1400 wbc and 100 neutraphils.  I'm not getting nuelasta this time around, since my AC is every three weeks my counts should be able to recover on their own before the next infusion.

Ddkath and Babygoose, welcome.  Things that I use include the biotene toothpaste and mouth wash, salt water a baking soda rinse (1tsp each to 2 quarts of water), soft toothbrush, tea tree oil soap, I eat unsalted saltines when nauseous, . I try to walk everyday.  Also, I suck on popsicles during the adriamyacin part of the infusion. My MO said sucking on something cold will help prevent mouth sores, so far so good.

Thanks for the info mommyQ.  I wound up taking a 4 hour nap today.  You are so right, I feel terrific now.  We have to LISTEN to our bodies!  I had no idea the fatigue would hit so hard and so late.

Hi all,

Haven't been on here for about a week...looks like I missed a lot!  Welcome to all you new gals.  Sorry you have to join us.  

Everforward - a pox on the creep who stole your wallet!

Football nut - thanks so much for your support!  I would love to have you come ride one of my horses!

Nana - I hope you start feeling better soon.

Everyone else - there is no way I can go back and read all that I missed.  My eyes are giving me too much trouble and my brain is not far behind.

Tomorrow is my third round of A/C.  Ugh.  I am having such a hard time.  If my DH wasn't here to take me-I'm afraid I would find an excuse not to go.  I dread it more than I can say. I'm also still a little shocked whenever I pass by a mirror.  I have light, fine, baby-like hair all over my head.  It is just so weird.  I find myself wearing a ball cap most of the time.  But I was brave enough to go to church on Sunday and wore a cute hat.  Everyone was so kind to me.  Still having trouble with phlebitis in my arm.  Gotta ask my MO if that will ever clear up.  I'm beginning to think I will be left with more ailments than I ever could have imagined because of this stupid BC.  Sorry for the rant, just feel like unloading tonight.

Wishing you all an SE free week.  Hugs,  lilyrose

Happy Tuesday Beautiful Warriors!

I have been reading but not responding this past week. Because a).I've been hanging with my family, trying to be a little bit normal during my "good week", b). but it's been a challenge because the NAUSEA still hovers, and c). I.AM.SO.TIRED.

On the upside, I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes (even though they have thinned a little), I don't have to shave my legs OR my armpits, and I've been getting LOADS of hat compliments.

mmtagirl: Your awkward moments list CRACKED ME UP. And also, totally accurate. I feel like an aged version of myself. And my MEMORY, GEEZ. The other day I walked into the DEN to get SOMETHING, forgot what it was I needed, walked back out, and then realized that what I needed was in the LAUNDRY ROOM, not the den. DOH!

jhodro: Your Hair-Free Benefits are AWESOME. I *love* #1 - freaking out staring strangers. My husband suggested that I scare misbehaving children by whipping off my hat and asking if they've ever read Roald Dahl's book The Witches.

Ddkath70 & babygoose: Welcome. So sorry we didn't get to meet at a coffee shop or on a beach in Hawaii, but you'll find lots and lots of support and advice from the lovely folks on these boards.

Ddkath70: I hear you about the nausea. I am VERY prone to it as well - on boats, on planes, in the car, during pregnancy (I puked through two entire pregnancies - from start to finish - and that's the story of why I only have two children), when I eat certain foods, and sometimes just because my body decides it's going to be nauseous. It was the only thing about chemo that made me cry - I burst into tears in my MO's office during the consult when he was going over side effects. He was very reassuring; they have lots and lots of meds and different combinations of meds they can try, he said. I've done 2 rounds of THC, and we still haven't found exactly the right stuff - there's no vomiting, but I'm more nauseated than I'd like. I have my day-before-chemo appointment on Thursday and I'm telling him to pull out the BIG STUFF now. The thing to remember is that everyone responds to chemo differently, so once your team knows how you're going to react, they can tailor your meds accordingly. And you might be one of the lucky ladies that doesn't have any nausea. It does happen (and I would SO envy you).

MommyQ: Those BLOODY snails! They're MOCKING me. I bet they're the same ones that challenged me to a race and then LAUGHED at me when I had to decline. I'll show them when Chemo is over. Can you say escargot?

Blueberry4: YES! Buffs! Although I had no idea what they were called. My Mother-In-Law bought me one, and it turns out it is my FAVORITE thing to wear. It's light, it doesn't slip off or sideways, it's super comfortable, and it's totally cute.

Footballnut: I love the Goth idea. *grins* I was thinking about getting a spiky pink-haired wig, sticking on some temporary tattoos, and adding a couple of fake piercings in my nose and eyebrow. We moved into our current neighbourhood 3 years ago, and discovered it's very snooty (we SO do not fit in here) - I'm kinda thinking I would REALLY enjoy seeing the neighbours' reactions to my new "look".

Everforward: I am SO MAD on your behalf at the person who stole your wallet. What an awful thing to happen! *stomps foot and makes an ugly face*

Ladies, I am EXHAUSTED this round! Phew! And to top it off, chemo is doing a number on my mastectomy scar. It started stretching after the port went in (there's only so much skin to go around, you know?), and the chemo has made it worse. It's been dry and a little flaky, and my BS kind of blew me off, saying it was normal. Then, on Sunday, a little area on the scar under my arm split, so now there's an open sore there. It was bleeding and oozing a little, so I called my BS on Monday and he BLEW ME OFF AGAIN. Seriously. He said to "do nothing" and to "expect things to continue like this for awhile." Awesome. Thankfully, I can show it to my MO on Thursday, so if there's an issue or a risk of infection, he can deal with it. Meanwhile, I think my BS may be fired. 

ANYWAY, I am going to sleep now. Again. Because I swear that's all I want to do lately. Thank goodness for coffee - even if it does have a slightly charred flavour now (thank you chemo!). That's what Mocha Coffee Creamer is for, right? 

Oh, you guys! Its just so helpful to read through your posts this a.m., even with the disasters like Everforward's. I totally relate to having something like that happen, getting a wallet stolen, and having it feel like TOO MUCH. There just isn't any slack in my psyche right now. I tanked yesterday, both physically and psychologically, after only two short trips to town. I drove myself, and both involved positive interactions, but proved to be more than i could handle. Whaaa!! My DH has been away since last Fri., and i enjoyed being on my own for a few days. Until yesterday! Thank God my wonderful niece is arriving today to provide moral and physical support. I have my 6th tx today, and am starting to have zinging pain in nails once in awhile, as well as more big D instead of the big C. Yuck. And I have to figure out the headwear thing, as the thin patches are showing more and more on my head. Double whaaa! Its one thing to suffer, but its a horse of a different color to be suffering AND going bald. Outrageous, I say. You guys all get medals for showing up, sharing, caring and commiserating! Huge hugs to all, Mame

Football - are you a closet NY Sports Fan???  We are big NY Giants fans in this family! And hubby is a Rangers fan (I don't follow hockey). So, yes! Wear your #10 when you cruise in Linda's convertible, lol! Also, I love your comment about retirement rehearsal.  I saw someone on another thread say, "I have to remind myself that I'm just visiting "old".  Your comment reminded me of that.  Both true and good to remember.  This is all temporary. 

Took the day off from work.  The only way to describe it is to say I need to recharge my batteries.  Started feeling a little nausea and a lot of fatigue yesterday, which is unusual two weeks post-chemo for me.  But then again, what do I know? I've only had 2 infusions.  I'm also nursing some serious blisters from Saturday's hike, which prevent me from even wearing a regular shoe.  Good thing the weather warmed up here in NY the past couple of days, so I could wear flip flops to work. 

Happy Hump Day fellow warriors! Have a great day!

Hi all.  I've been reading and not posting.  Much help! Thank you!  I started April 1st with Taxol for 12 weeks, then FEC for 4 treatments after that. Doesn't seem like that's a typical regimen, but I appear to have a more advanced stage than most of you.  Lost my hair by week 5. My head isn't as nicely shaped as yours Jaimieh, so wigs and scarfs are my only option.  Plus, my kids giggle too much when they see me bald…5 year olds do that! 

Best to you all and thanks for all the good pointers.

Hey Jen - did you avoid the mouth sores for round two?

Jaimieh - I started off taking Zofran the day of Chemo and then Maxeran for the days following. When that wasn't enough, for Round 2, I took Zofran the day of chemo, and then Zantac for 5 days following, with Maxeran for any "break-through nausea". I might as well have been taking Tic-Tacs for all the good it did me. The nausea set in late afternoon on the day following chemo and hung in there until Day 5 or 6, let up for about a week, and then settled in again (albeit a milder form). Plus, I really, REALLY don't like the Maxeran - it makes my whole face twitch (add this to the eye twitching caused by the Taxotere and OY!), and makes me feel...funny. I'll ask about the Emend.

Isn't it amazing how many drugs we now know the names of and uses for and side effects of?  -feels SMART.

cold in canada tell him or her you want to try Emmend. It honestly doesn't even compare to Zofran. Last time I serpent the entire time after round 4 sick to my stomach. Then they gave me Emmend and I joined the living again. This time I have Emmend without asking and they give me whatever I ask for. 

Thanks for all the picture love. I forgot how cold being this close to bald is. 

So my neulasta never made it here and I am pissed. I needed this shot here today to make sure I stay on track and some how someone screwed it up. Grrrrrr. Never thought I would fight for a white blood cell booster. 

footballnut - you can wear Peyton's jersey in my car - inside out though

Sorry jamieh - I would be very upset too

Mikishelly - I have only had one so I can't comment on that but I have heard that some SE's are cumulative and I have also heard that some had different reactions to each dose - I guess it is just a bit of a guessing game for us on what to expect.  I am hoping to have a similar experience next time as this time but just not sure what will happen.

Jen - ask you MO about Mugard for your mouth - they may have a sample they can give you for the next cycle.  My insurance will not cover it but they gave me a sample bottle and I am gonna try to make it last as long as possible.  I iced my mouth the entire infusion of taxotere - at about 16 ounces of ice chips LOL