Starting Chemo in April 2014

Oh Swiss Miss, I forgot you were also going today! Sorry! Glad you smiled over my mantra! I am halfway today too! Who's better than me??? You are!!!

I'm in a fog, going to bed in a few minutes.

Good night fellow warriors!

clarrn - SO SORRY to hear about the lymphedema. I, too, was diagnosed about a week ago. Here's what the lymphedema PT told me, and I hope it makes you feel better about it all. Basically, I've had some mild swelling and pain in my arm and hand since my surgery in Feb. My BS blew it off saying it was "normal healing", claiming that HIS patients RARELY get lymphedema (insert eye roll here). After some pushing on my part, and a couple of "there's nothing there" ultrasounds, he FINALLY referred me to a specialist. The specialist was AWESOME, and completely reassured me that while YES, I do have some swelling and YES, it looks like a mild case of lymphedema, it is still very early stage and easily treatable. In fact, she thinks we can likely CURE it by getting full range of movement back in that arm. 

I had been faithfully doing my stretches until I found out I needed chemo, and then the port went in, and then chemo started, and suddenly it had been a few weeks since I had stretched out that arm, and it is still pretty stiff. The PT is fairly confident that getting that arm back in shape will solve the whole problem.

IN ADDITION, she told me that chemo causes swelling. Lots of it. So expect to see pain and puffiness throughout your chemo treatments, and don't panic. I was given some stretching exercises, and a follow-up appointment, and a big thumbs up for making it this far.

I hope this helps a little. And I really hope your appointment with the specialist ends the same as mine.

Mscaruso - I'll be thinking of you this Friday while I'm in the chair. Hoping this round will be easier.

Lovebeingnana - So sorry to hear about your tooth! Miserable.

ColdinCanada - Love your posts. I'm from Calgary too but living in Atlanta. I hope the TBCC is treating you well. I worked at Foothills for 15 years. I sure miss home. Especially now with all my family there. They're rotating coming out to see me. My little sister flies in tomorrow. So excited!

Longisland - May I steal your mantra? I meditate and have been looking for a mantra whilst I receive chemo... it's perfect!

Swissmiss - congrats on being half way done!

Footballnut you look great!!!!

Linda I hope you got sleep last night. 

I hope everyone has minimal SE's!!!!!

Wishing all you ladies in treatment now easy infusions and no SE's.  You both look awesome in the chair!  Thursdays are my chemo day.  Tomorrow is the 4th of 12 weekly Taxols.  Yea!  I'll be 1/3 of the way through -- then onto rads.  For those of you with my treatment, 4 AC followed by weekly Taxol, the Taxol is much easier to tolerate - so take heart. 

we really should try to arrange some type of get together. Imagine the discounts that we would get!!!  Lol

Tx for the kind words!!

Home now. They have me extra anti nausea meds today so hopefully no vomiting this time!!  Feel tired now so I guess I should rest but thinking about eating first

:-)

Timbuktu - yes to the sharp shooting pains.  In my stomach, and other areas as well. In my case, they usually don't last too long, but are a bit scary.

Going to get my Neulasta shot soon. Do you guys get a red face after treatment? I don't need blush now.But I'm not hot or flushed. I'll ask at the docs today. Just wondering. Have an easy day Ya'll!

Football: You look great, as always! Hope you get some rest and avoid the nausea!

Merg: My face is always red the morning after my treatment - for about 6 hours or so. I was told it was the steroids for me. It looks like a sunburn - face and chest. It just kind of fades by mid afternoon.

Hope for no SE's for everyone this week!!

For you brigadoon!

See? Total PIRATE. 

ColdinCanada - I LOVE it!!!  Now look in the mirror and tell those nasty cells to walk the plank and jump into Davey Joneses' locker!

Weird sleep pattern means I'm in bed by 8:00 and awake at 3:30. So here I am. My MO explained about the stomach thing. She said chemo destroys any cells that reproduce often, which includes cells lining the stomach. that's why I feel simultaneously ravenous and like I want to swallow a bottle of Petpto Bismol. I'm hoping this fades away soon. It's amazing how even a slight stomach problem can impact your productivity. 

I booked a massage for Saturday!

so cute Cold!!  Love it - funny when I got my treatment tuesday I was looking through the basket of free stuff they always have there - hats and scarves and things and there was an eye patch in there and I thought of YOU!!! LOL

Day 2 and feel pretty good - they cut my carboplatin by 15% and I do think it is helping with the neuropathy  - last time on day two my fingers hurt more when I typed but we will see where this goes by the afternoon - but I am keeping my less achy fingers crossed.

I had bald spots and what my hubby called racing stripes and I couldn't take the itchy feeling any longer so hubby shaved me and now I am using coconut  oil on it and it feels so nice - Not a great picture but it is my "oh is the me look?"  LOl

Hope you all having great SE free days or minimal ones that you can manage - and in everyones pocket who is going in the rest of the week!!

Golfingirl-My MO doesn't give any strict regime, decadron and famotadine after chemo but that's it. Although my chemo is a little less than yours.

Just wondering if anyone here will be starting Tamoxifen soon?

My last chemo will be on June 2nd and I have no idea what it will be like to stop chemo have my exchange surgery and start the tamoxifen. 

Love the pirate look. There is a pirate ship that does cruises on the Mississippi river here in St. Louis, MO. Just an idea for the "get together". We could all dress up and be on a real pirate ship. I will see if I can find a link to the cruise and post it later.

Have a great SE free or at least minimal SE's week. 

Good luck to all of us in the chair this week.  I am loving the photos.  We will have to create a forum for after chemo photos, when we have hair and don't look like Captain Jack Sparrow.  I head to the chair tomorrow and I am going to use the mantra you guys have going - DIE F****** DIE.  It will be the only thing getting me through it.  I would take a lorazepam during the tx but can't - have my daughters 9th birthday party in the afternoon.  I'm sure the steroids will keep me moving until afterwards. 

You guys are all so amazing, Will check in once the brain fog post chemo settles.

Not sure if anyone saw it, but the NYT had a great op-ed piece about aspirin use and the potential to prevent cancer and recurrence.  A new idea to consider post-treatment. If it can't hurt I am all for it. I intend to pull every trick in my arsenal to prevent this sh*tshow from happening again. Going to see what MO thinks. Not that I will necessarily listen to her if she nixes it!! Ha!

Sending no SE vibes to all.

Sandra