Starting Chemo in April 2014
Comments
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Good Luck to everyone going for treatments today and this week. Glad to see more smiling faces being posted - will update our photo collage when we get a few more.
I'm on Day 6, Tx No. 3. - this is the worst time for me - can't concentrate, achy, bored crazy. And, Dr. called yesterday to say I was going on metformin to control my glucose during the rest of treatment. Chemo - the gift that keeps on giving.
Footballnut - I think your feelings are perfectly normal - hang in there and stay out of the dark!
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In the light of eternity, time casts no shadow. - Written In My Own Heart's Blood. Prologue to Diana Gabaldon's new installment of "The Outlander" series - out today. I will be busy for about 800 pages!
Good luck to all this week whether you have treatments or not.
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Time to see if I can lay hands on the first book in that series, Brigadoon. I had never heard of it, but notice that it will be a tv series in August. It sounds good, and I will report back my research after 100 pps or so. Thanks for the lead. Hope we don't lose you amongst all those 800 pages!
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Brigadoon, I am a Jamie and Claire fan, too!
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The Chemo Dementors took me to a dark place after round 3 and I'm just now crawling out from under them. I'm still a little fuzzy brained, but before I slide backwards, I thought I'd try to trick myself by listing a few things that are good about this chemo crap:
Hairless legs and armpits all summer!
No periods!
Doing my hair in the morning takes 30 seconds.
The good days feel really good.
Finding this group of remarkable fighters.
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mmtagirl - I knew there would be fellow sojourner's on here!! How exciting.
mameme - You will love it with its Scotland theme. I learned so much about Scotland's history. Diana Gabaldon is a great researcher.
If you two are on Facebook there is a group that you can join under Outlander.
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EverForward - It is always good to find a silver lining. Wishing the good days to come.
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Diana Gabaldon is one of my favorites, too.
Everforward - looking at the silver linings is helpful. I love the no muss, no fuss hair.
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SharonDe - We may have to start a board
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hi all
Thanks for your never ending support! Blood work at 12:45 today the. Meet with my MO at 1:45
My scalp broke out with all sorts of bumps that has since cleared up but I still have a bump in my right earlobe. Hurts to the touch but not as bad assay week. We shall see what he has to say about that
I find myself more tired in the morning and it's hard to get myself going being in the house alone. I have to getexercising although hubby and I did walk a lot while we were away and it felt great!!
I turned off my gym membership temporarily before surgery and have not turned it back on as I was not sure what my SEs would be like. I'm thinking about re activating it as this will force me to get out of this house!!
Tomorrow is my turn in the chair!
Hope all are well today! I love having you all as my sisters!!!!
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My MIL did the Jamie and Clare tour in Scotland. Her pictures are amazing!
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Today's agenda DONE. I finally went and bought a wig.
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What a great wig! Does it feel secure on your head? That's my problem with my wig.
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Hello Beautiful April Ladies!
I have emerged from the Dark Place once again. I saw you there Swissmiss and EverForward. I tried to wave, but I was Just.So.Tired, and all that came out was a weak finger-waggle. And the rest of you all, I can not tell you how much it helps me to log into this board and read about how you all are faring. Life goes on outside the Dark Place, right? Thanks to all of you for always helping me to remember that, even when the Dark Place is trying to suck out my soul.
So, THC gals, Round 4 is a doozy. I WILL say that the Emend helped A LOT with the nausea, but the FATIGUE? Oh man, that's another issue altogether. Physically, mentally, emotionally, I have never, EVER been SO TIRED. I literally slept through yesterday. ALL DAY. I just slept and slept and slept. My husband woke me up to feed me and make sure I was getting some fluids, but mostly, I SLEPT. And today, I feel better. I do. Although I can NOT IMAGINE what Rounds 5 and 6 will be like if the fatigue is cumulative. Eeek!
clarrn - Coincidence! We're SUV shopping too. After being housebound for much of last winter due to incredible amounts of snow and not being able to get out of our driveway, and then being housebound for much of this spring and summer due to feeling like CRAP and being immuno-compromised, we decided that I will NOT be doing "housebound" again this winter. Plus, the one of the first things my husband said to me when we found out I needed chemo was "I am SO buying you a car after this." I thought he was joking, Turns out he was not. So YAY! for me.
Keep us posted on the SUV hunt.Footballnut - SO happy you had such a lovely vacation! Also very jealous too. More happy than jealous though.
EverForward - "The good days feel really good." YES. THIS. Exactly THIS.
Aaaannd, now I'm ready for another nap. Whew. Typing on the computer keyboard really wipes a person out, right?
Hugs and Healing sent your way Ladies!
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Mmtagirl- I just got my first weekly taxol yesterday and so far it has been easier than the taxotere (aka taxoterrible). This is subject to change because I have 11 taxols to go but so far much better.
Everforward- Loving your list! My leg hairs have started growing back
. Footballnut- You will be retired with your DH traveling and stolling around with him.
Sharonde- Sorry to hear about the additional medication but as a positive it is known to help prevent recurrence.
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You have a GREAT husband cold. The only upside of all this is that we do appreciate the good, a lot more than before.
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A tale of chemo brain - So my mother is coming in for round 4, which falls near my birthday. I was working out some scheduling issues while she's here and I spent a good 10 minutes thinking that my birthday was a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DAY THAN IT HAS BEEN FOR OVER 40 YEARS. Oy.
Cold, your last post made me chuckle. Thank you!
Jaimieh, your wig is awesome. And I love "taxoterrible." I'm using that from now on.
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Jaimieh - Love your wig - it looks great!
Cold - Congrats on emerging from the dark place! May you stay in the light.
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Your wig looks perfect, Jamieh - as in, not like a wig at all.
Have fun SUV shopping, clarrn and Cold. That will give you something to look forward to.
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Haven't been around much ... was busy last week and the week before. Well, busy compared when I started treatment ... nothing like "busy" used to before all of this started! :-) New normal :-)
Did my final round of A/C last week - yay! Found #3 and #4 easier than #1 and #2. However, my hemoglobin started dropping and I have tremendous fatigue today and yesterday. It was low two weeks ago, came up a bit, but tanked today. Had my blood work done, it's only 7.3 so I have to have a blood transfusion tomorrow. Not happy about it, but am SO tired and fatigued ... hope I feel better afterwards
Start dose dense Taxol next week ... every 2 weeks for 4 treatments. Herceptin will start next week .. .that will be weekly while I am on the Taxol, then every 3 weeks to finish out a year.
That collage was GREAT!!!! Thank you to who made it ... I saw the name a few pages ago and am so low on energy that I can't remember now :-( I couldn't even read the last few pages ... this low energy really sucks :-(
I think there was a bone pain/Neulasta discussion? I take Claritin every single day ... they had me start the day of my first treatment and continue on. Until this past weekend, didn't have any bone pain. This weekend I was sorta kinda running an event (we have an RV and I stayed in that most of the time) However, it meant I sort of got off of my schedule and only took one Claritin over 3 days ... bone pain yesterday, but it has subsided now.
With Taxol, one is supposed to take Benedryl. I am allergic to Benedry ... break into hives! Ironic, eh? :-) So, supposed to take Zyrtec the day before, day of and day after treatment and they will be giving me something else in the IV. Hoping that bone pain doesn't start because I can't take the Claritin at the same time. We shall see!
Plus, they usually give you Benedryl with a blood transfusion ... or so I am told. They will be giving me Claritin from what I hear ... again, we shall see tomorrow! So hoping for no complications!
Wish I could remember everything I read just now ... sorry! Yay for those that are having good treatments. Wishing everyone few side effects!!
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I've officially made it back from the Dark Place. If only I had a head of hair, I'd feel kind of "normal." So not looking forward to Round 2 Taxol, but it's a week away so I can catch my breath. It is so good to read all your posts here...I'm wishing you all a week in the Light
How often do y'all do blood work? My new MO wants me at the lab weekly, but today I called his office and said no way. I actually still have bruising from my last venipuncture...she blew the vein in my arm, then had to draw from my hand. I had a marble-sized bump on that hand for two days...she had one job, for goodness sakes. Because of those stupid cancer-laced lymph nodes, I only have one good arm. I think weekly lab is too much...just wondering what the standard is.
Wishing you all a great day!
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A chemo brain tale of hope! My short term memory has been shot since my first round of chemo 2 years ago. Today I had to call Costco and did not have a pen to write down the number. I gathered all of my brain strength, at least what is left of it, and determined to remember the number. And I did! This is a first in almost 3 years! So there is hope!
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SwissMiss - I get bloodwork every week. Right before my treatment and then the following week (I get treatments every 2 weeks)
However, I have a port and it is all drawn through there since my 3rd treatment. The first blood draw (the week after first treatment) I didn't know that I could ask for an IV specialist to access my port. I am a very "hard stick" and it took forever. The second blood draw (week after treatment #2) I did ask for an IV specialist but she couldn't access the port after 3 tries. Back to the hand. I spoke with my MO and was told I could get it done at my infusion center ... the gals there are always good at accessing my port. Plus, I can wait for my results. Did you not get a port? I also am down to one arm and am SO THANKFUL for my port!! I could not go through this otherwise. Have always been a hard stick even if I hydrate a LOT for 24 to 36 hours before.
Timbuktu - yay!! :-) Always good to know there is hope :-)
I had SUCH a good few days last week before A/C #4 ... other than the lack of stamina, I felt like my old self, pre surgery, pre chemo! What a great feeling to have a CLEAR head! Then treatment #4 and back to that fuzzy feeling again. It was nice while it lasted :-)
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SwissMiss,
My labs are weekly before each treatment. If I am not having a problem I see my MO every three weeks.
I spent two weeks in the Dark Place. Just awful. My MO gave me a week off treatment and I felt so good! The good does feel better after the bad. I am back on schedule this week and taking naps every day but no Dark Place. Only three more Taxol/Herceptin to go. I can do it!
Looks like radiation will start in July along with every three week Herceptin.
Me in my wig:
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DeeC - Your wig looks so natural. I need one with short bangs because I wear glasses too. I got the free wig from TLC but it is not quite the look I want. I am going to have it cut in hopes it will look more like yours.
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Deec and jaimeh your wigs look GREAT - would never think wig!
Well treatment 3 is in the books - long day at the center - arrive at 9 am and leave at 230 ughh. Not looking forward to the next few weeks and the dementor visits!!
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Lemonade...I have a port, but I didn't think to ask the lab techs to try that instead. I go to a freestanding lab near my home since my infusion center and MO are a 30 minute drive away. Honestly, after what the lab techs do to my veins (they truly don't inspire my confidence) I would be frightened to see what they may do to my port. This might be because I had an infusion nurse stick the giant port needle in my chest one time rather than my port. I try everything, and I just can't win in the needle department. I read recently that I should work out and then get the blood draw...makes the veins easier to access I guess? My old MO did labs biweekly before my infusion, and I'd truly prefer that
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Dee - another perfect wig. It looks so natural.
Swissmiss - I get blood drawn once every 3 weeks - just before treatment. Sorry you are having issues with the nurses/techs finding a vein. That just adds insult to an already not fun situation.
Good Luck keeping the dementors at bay, Linda.
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SwissMiss ... if you go to a lab, they might not have an IV specialist on staff and that is who you need to access your port. Really sorry you have to go through that!! Also sorry about the trouble accessing your port by the infusion nurse!! Was that at your old cancer center? Hopefully they are better at your new one ... I love all of the nurses at my cancer center. Each one caring and understanding and does a great job.
I have weekly blood draws ... thank goodness. Ended up in the hospital a week after the first treatment due to extremely low counts and temperature, now need a blood transfusion tomorrow after a week after the 4th .... if I didn't have the blood draws, who knows! My counts go way down the week after each treatment. Hoping it won't be as severe when I am on Taxol.
DeeC - I would not have guessed that was a wig!! Looks very natural.
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DeeC and Jaimieh: Great wigs!! They look very natural. My avatar pic is my wig. I wish I could wear it a little more, but it's oh so hot. I also feel like it isn't 100% secure, not that it will fall off, but it shifts, especially if it's windy. I tease my kids that I'm going to wear it half-way back. It looks so funny on like that!
I also have weekly blood draws. Because my chemo day is Tuesday, originally the infusion center wanted my blood draws on Saturdays. I'm fortunate to be very close to the center, but Saturdays I usually had to sit with the crowd that was waiting for the Urgent Care (Same area) and had to wait as long as 90 minutes. I complained finally and they said, oh you can go on Friday - when they use my "fast pass" and I'm in and out in 15 minutes and I don't sit with the crowd in general waiting!! Why they didn't tell me that first, I have no idea. I also am starting to get some track looking marks and bruising on my arm from the blood draws, but was told the techs could not use the port, I'd have to wait for an RN to come down to do it through the port. I'll just keep using the arm as long as possible, I think. It usually isn't too painful as long as you get a decent tech.
Amazing how that can vary!!
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