Starting Chemo in April 2014

Cold I love that picture of you and you have such a great infectious smile!!!  I wanna be your friend 

Love that scarf too - such nice long tails on it!

Cold ... you are rockin' the scarf!!!

Sharon ... love the blue wig, good for you!

Linda ... that free ACS wig looks fabulous on you!

I have been feeling like a weak dishrag the last few days, but today woke up almost with energy, or what passes for having energy nowadays :-) so the counts must be shooting up again.  The fatigue on round 2 is more than round 1 and I was also told that it is cumulative, so expect to be even more tired for round 3 next week.  Looks like my chemo week is my "good" week, then the following Monday afternoon to about Friday I have no energy due to low counts.  

Didn't even sign on to the board the last few days ... sometimes I just don't want to think about cancer, you know?  I had several phone calls, texts and emails this week from my mom, friends and people that just want to see how I am doing and mean well, but it just puts all of the focus on being a cancer patient!  And I am more than that!!  

Someone asked about weekly Taxol ... I will be getting weekly Taxol along with Herceptin for 8 weeks and then Herceptin every 3 weeks to finish out a year.  Haven't really looked into SE of Taxol yet.  Other than numbness I think I have had everything else and have been able to deal with it.  Don't even know if I will be getting Neulasta with the Taxol ... one step at a time, need to get the last two A/C treatments done first :-)

Hair loss ... my stubble is falling out - really wish it would just all fall out already!  All underarm hair is gone.  But I still have to shave my legs!!  Every time I think there is going to be a silver lining to all of this, wham, not for me!  Have to shave my legs and had my period last week  :-)   Still have my eyelashes and eyebrows.  And even though it thinned out a bit, still have most of all hair "down there"   TMI, but if I was to go swimming I would have to do a bikini shave right now!   What about hair on arms ... does that go?  Or that is another "depends" side effect :-)

Wishing everyone few SE and have a great weekend!

Hope everyone is enjoying a SE free weekend :-)

Cold - you rock a scarf like no other!!! Xoxo

Cold - so good to see you with your beautiful smile. 

So good to hear all of you. I don't know if you are supposed to or not supposed to but

I absolutely could not stand it another minute so I had my husband clean shave my head this morning. I am so relieved!!!!! It was itching and hurting and driving me crazy. My friend who just finished chemo did the same through her treatment so she suggested it today. The red bumps are already gone and it feels much better!!!!

Agree with all the comments, cold! You inspired me to go out in public with a long scarf today in confidence! You young gals are so amazing .

Swissmiss, I had the metallic taste with round 1 when it was TC. I have to admit round 2 was much easier on the taste buds.  Food didn't taste as good but not nearly as bad and no metallic taste and I didn't do ice chips with either.  Who knows?  Much better appetite with AC. Almost too much....

Long Island, I am living it up as well before Tuesday for round 3.  I drank red wine tonight. Omg!  Living on the edge .....

LovebeingNana -  smart move on your hair.  The little buzzy bits are very annoying.  I think the only thing you aren't supposed to do is cut your head when shaving it - looks like yours came out perfect.

So far doing well here after TC #2.  Day 4, and visitors arrive for 3 days - they will actually be a help, walking the dogs, etc.  I will probably lay low, as this seems to be my achy breaky time.

Wishing everyone a continued good weekend.

Lounging Day ...

I was also told not to go overboard with antioxidants because they could adversely affect my chemo, and especially not to drink green tea. I was juicing and eating healthy prior to my diagnosis so I'm just trying to keep doing what I've been doing. The smoothies and protein shakes are to make sure my body gets the nutrients it needs, particularly on days when I'm not feeling well and don't eat enough. My chemo nurses tell me week after week that my labs "look great" and to keep doing what I'm doing! They seemed a little surprised that I bounced back so quickly from the cisplatin, which they said is much harsher than the Taxol, after I told them how it knocked me on my butt last Sunday and Monday and I barely ate on Monday. I was worried how that would affect my labs this week but they said my labs were "great, as usual."   I think we all need to find that place between following our doc's orders and getting our bodies the nutrients it needs during this very tough process   

Love you my fellow warriors! I hope we all have SE free weeks this week!

Yesterday was a crappy day. It felt like my entire skeletal and muscular systems were disintegrating. Today is better, but I was still feeling cranky and achey. I decided to force myself to get out of the apartment and enjoy the nice, spring day. Taking a cue from ColdinCanada, I wrapped a long scarf around my head and went out for lunch. Yay, me!

(Wow, my face and neck look puffy!)

Everforward - you look great! No one sees puffiness except you!! Hope you're able to enjoy the rest of the day!

Hi Ladies,

You all look wonderful! 

For those of you doing Taxol or heading there soon:

My nurse navigator gave me these 2 tidbits of advise.

1.  It can be hard on your nails but you can fight back.  If you notice your nails getting red (generally starting with the thumbs and big toes) starting putting tea tree oil on them once a day to prevent any infection. 

2.  If you start getting any neuropathy start vitamin B-6.  As soon as I started feeling any numbness in my fingers or toes I would go take one and then when it started to wear off I would take another one (100mg).  It seemed like it took several days before I noticed it taking effect but then I just stayed on top of it after that.  My neuropathy went away after chemo.  Even if its slight, there is no need to suffer. 

I know you are all saying 'oh, heck No!' to any more symptoms and I wish none of these for you but knowledge is power. 

Soft hugs 

Hi all

Getting ready for next week and infusion #2 these last few days I've felt chilled to my bones like I have a cold coming on but can't complain

Scalp still itches and my buzzed hair is really falling out. Soon to be a chromed dome!

Still walking although weather has sucked. Very cool here despite some sun!

Glad that we didn't go anywhere!  Plenty of time for that once all of this is done

:-)

beigadoon I know that ure beautiful hair or no hair!!  I'm thankful that this is happening as we approach the summer months. I am glad that I cut my hair shorter gradually and then buzzed

:-)

Just hate seeing the hair falling out of other places!!

Lol

lol

That's for sure!!!!