Starting Chemo in December 2013

Options
1…120121123125126…168

Comments

  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited July 2014

    Michele, That picture makes me smile every time I look at it. I only see strong, healthy, beautiful women!

    Kimie, thanks for checking in. My feet still ache every morning or when I sit still for a while but better with movement. Doing the 5k tells me that it will be ok eventually, or at least that I need to keep moving to feel like my feet will cooperate

    Barb, thanks for the recipes. Holy moly!-1 cup butter, 6 eggs, heavy cream, 3 cups sugar, sounds heavenly but probably not on a heart healthy diet. It makes a big cake though. Enjoying your first day of no rads? 

    Raisinette or milk dud or nemo's gimpy fin! Hysterical, only we would get that and to being able to laugh at ourselves is beautiful

    Robin, I didn't even look to see when it was. I would only do it if someone I "knew" was thinking about it

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited July 2014

    ok I see the Thrivers cruise is a west coast cruise, in January 22-26 leaving from LA for 5 days. Starting at 449.00. Sponsored through breast cancer wellness magazine, (btw looks like a great mag that I will probably order for $15/yr). Long way for me to go for 4 nights, unless I combine it with another vacation or there is an east coast one sometime. Dreaming is good!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • missy6758703
    missy6758703 Member Posts: 218
    edited July 2014

    Lisa, i think it sounds like a blast!!! I can only imagine the fun we could all have together!!! :)

    OMG these antibiotics are making me sick as a dog......having a hard time keeping anything down.....not sure what to do at this point, guess call the dr? ugh.

    May you all enjoy a day of sunshine and roses and not have your head in the toilet like me!! :)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited July 2014

    Missy,

    What are you taking?  You should not have to be puking!  call the doc!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited July 2014

    Michelle,I agree with Jeanette, call the doc. You need something else if these are making you so sick

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • missy6758703
    missy6758703 Member Posts: 218
    edited July 2014

    I am taking Clindamycin (sp?) and Cipro .  Cipro is 2 times a day and the Clindamycin is 4 times a day.  I think the Clindamycin is the culprit.  I have a call into my dr.....just waiting for him to call back now.  FML.  At least my ass is feeling better.  ThumbsUp

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited July 2014

    michelle, I hope you get your nausea under control...

    DJJ,oranje, you look great!

    Barbara, I thought you had a blueberry recipe...no? Maybe I mis-read it. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited July 2014

    keepthefaith- no actual recipe,  I just added blueberries to the banana bread recipe. could use some tweeking if you use bigger juicier berries them my litle wild ones.

    Missy any antinausea drugs left from chemo to help you out?  I still have a lot of generic zofran around. Saving it for the stomach flu that goes around at times.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kimie06
    kimie06 Member Posts: 215
    edited July 2014

    Missy I hope you are feeling better now... thats brutal.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited July 2014

    Michelle- how are you feeling?

    Someone was asking about how to keep the outside of the bread from burning but still cooking the inside... Hobby lobby sells these bake even strips. I've used them when I've baked cakes but I wonder if they'd work in the bread?

    Anyone have any suggestions for calcium supplements?  I'm taking D3 but not sure what to do for calcium. I guess I need it since I started the Aromasin. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • missy6758703
    missy6758703 Member Posts: 218
    edited July 2014

    It was me that was wondering about how to not burn things!! thanks for the advise...i will look for those at Hobby Lobby!

    I am still feeling like shit.  Found out my doctor is out of town till Monday, another one on call just told me to take an over the counter med....I'm going to listen to my expert advise here and took one of my anti-nausea pills from chemo i had left!!! Good call!! totally forgot about having those.  It must be working  because i did manage to eat part of a chicken breast on the grill and some wild rice tonight and its still in me!! :)  

    I don't have any suggestions for supplements.  All I take is a multivitamin....those chewy ones are SO GOOD! 

    Off to go take my sitz bath.....oh joy oh joy.  I am so freakin sick of taking baths.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited July 2014

    maybe I should pick up those baking strips before my next radiation appointment.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RHGSR
    RHGSR Member Posts: 774
    edited July 2014

    jbokland - that was great!! Ha ha!! I wonder if they'd work on us!! 

    I used to bake cakes. - before baby # 3 and cancer.  Here is a picture of the turtle cake I did for one of my kiddos birthdays. 

    image

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RobinLK
    RobinLK Member Posts: 840
    edited July 2014

    I take calcium citrate. 500 mg a day. I can take up to 1000 mg but they are horse pills and each is 250, so I feel pretty accomplished by getting two down each day! I take it with my liquid vitamin D3 (5000 iu) in the morning. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited July 2014

    jb, perfect! Lol. Cooked on the inside but not burnt on the outside. That's exactly what we need! Maybe a simple hobby lobby baking strip will do the trick. Who will be the first to mention it? My treatment was postponed again today from 9:15 to 2:00 because the machine is down. Only the 2nd time but still. She called at 7am and asked if I wanted to come later, well of course! I have my sights set on next Friday AND NO LONGER! 6 more left. The prior radiated areas (full breast) are getting redder and itchy even though that area is not getting it any more. Continuing aquaphor, aloe, calendula, and added hydrocortisone cream to the itchy bumpy spots. Boost area is more red and sensitive also. 6 more treatments, pray it doesn't get much worse. I was doing sooo good with my skin

    Holli, that turtle cake is awesome! You should get back to baking cakes again as you certainly are good at it!

    Michelle, hope you start to feel better each day. The stuff you've been through lately ugh. But you still have you're sense of humor ;-)

    Have a great wknd everyine

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited July 2014

    Holli, what a fantastic cake for your child's BD..  

    Michelle, hope the anti nausea pills last you through the rest of your antibiotics.  Much better use for them then chemo,LOL. 

    Lisa I was the same way, NO delays. I had my end date "burned" in my mind.   My collar bone area got worse for several days after finishing hitting that area.  I was warned that skin can worsen for a few days after the treatment ends before it gets better.  Starting to peel the collar bone area, very pink skin underneath. I have to be really careful to keep SPF cream on it when I go out to even walk. 

    JB love your sense of humor!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited July 2014

    holli, cute cake! I am taking GNC Calcimate plus 800 w/magnesium and D-3. I think the last supplement I had, had soy in it. Since soy is kind of controversial with estrogen + BC, I switched to this one. Take 2 in the morn and 2 at night.  I am anxious to see if my numbers are up at my next appt.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aff
    aff Member Posts: 279
    edited July 2014

    jb - hilarious

    Holli- I bake but cannot create. The turtle is awesome. 

    Michelle - Hope you're feeling better

    My RO told me to take Caltrate with D3. 

    Have a great weekend everyone. 7 of 28 today. 25% of the way there. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RobinLK
    RobinLK Member Posts: 840
    edited July 2014

    Holli, that cake is AWESOME! Turtles happen to be my fave, I have a small collection of turtle knickknacks. 

    For the focus issues being discussed....tamoxifen can also cloud the brain similar to chemo. It works more like taxol and neuropathy by attacking the myelin sheath over the nerves. I have been coloring to improve my attention span, but have also been using an app called Magic Puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles and you get to chose the level of difficulty. It has helped with my decision making skills. Many free puzzle collections available, paid collections also, if you chose. My OT/PT therapist suggested Lumosity. I looked at it, but not sure I want to have a subscription. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited July 2014

    omg help! They cancelled my rad today as part won't be in until weekend for repair. So adds an extra day and now next Monday is my last instead of next fri. THIS SUCKS BIG TIME! I was so ready in my head for Friday, was planning dinner out with friends etc. Friday to finish was perfect. Who can I yell at?! I cried on the phone when I called them back to say I would come at any time if it was done today...please please please. But won't be fixed until weekend. Ahhhhhh

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RobinLK
    RobinLK Member Posts: 840
    edited July 2014

    {{{Hugs Lisa}}} I am so sorry your end date has been postponed.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited July 2014

    ok girls... Yes! 

    Per suggestion (or more like a question)of one of the girls on lumpectomy forum asking how many machines there are at my center...there are 2), I decided to call, again and ask if I could use the other machine.  I am set up on the one that needs repair.  my treatment plan is set up on that one and they said I would always be using that one. the machines are a little different and she said they usually don't do this... but they could re calibrate it for me (I'm on boosts now) but it wouldn't be ready for me until 4:00. I said OF COURSE as long as it's correct etc!! So thank god I can go back to my original mind set of next Friday! ( god forbid if there is any other delay or breakdown), but at least I know I can ask, implore, demand (lol) to use the other machine no matter how long it takes to set it up. Us BC patients can't wait and watch out when we are determined. (Why didn't they give me that option initially...probably because it means more work and that someone probably has to stay later BUT I DON'T CARE!)

    I wouldn't have called again, but when mripp put the bug in my head I said, hell, why not ask.

    Thank god for you girls. When we are not thinking its good that someone else is, even if just a little prodding and nudge

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited July 2014

    oh Lisa, so glad you got to get your rad in today. I was just like you, I had wed the 16 th fixed in my brain as the end. The one day the machine was down In the morning I bugged them to get me in in the afternoon if it got fixed. I called back a few hours later and they got me in at 4 PM. I was so afraid all the thunderstorms we were having that the  machines would get knocked out again. 

     I finally got my Victory picture taken for the collage.    One of my partners brought me in today (she was out of the office yesterday) Indian food she prepared, a big flower in a pot and a bottle of wine.  One boob is definitely smaller the the other and I fear it will shrink more.  Looking forward to my first healing weekend. Now the really hard parts starts- watchful waiting.  Wishing  everyone a good weekend. 

    image

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited July 2014

    Barbara, great photo!

    Lisa, keep on keepin' on!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • missy6758703
    missy6758703 Member Posts: 218
    edited July 2014

    Congratulations Barbara!!!! Wooohoooooo! Lisa, way to be persistent!! Love and hugs to you all!

    image

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 563
    edited July 2014

    just got a letter of denial for zometa.  Blue Cross will only cover it for FDA approved indications, so you have to have bone mets to get it, they do not care to prevent them. I am going to look into paying for it myself.  I need a port flush so they can biIll the insurance for the access and final flushing.  I find that I can get it with a coupon from GoodRX from CVS for $292. (Over $700 other places). Just need to find how much they will charge for the infusion. 

    So frustrating, they also refused to pay for a second opinion from a breast surgeon at Sloan Kettering since it was "out of network"

    GRRRR and I was having such a good day until I opened the mail. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jbokland
    jbokland Member Posts: 890
    edited July 2014

    oh lisa....that just SUCKS!!!   so sorry!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • count_it_all_joy
    count_it_all_joy Member Posts: 130
    edited July 2014

    Couldn't sleep again, just got up and read, read, read… and now it's 2 in the morning and I'm too tired to respond to anything!  

    J4DC - But, I'm afraid I'll forget by tomorrow if I don't respond about the shoulder pain you mentioned.  I've been having that too, for several weeks.  I described it to my husband, and he said it sounds like bursitis, which he used to get from sleeping with his arms above his head.  Given all our rad time with our arms above our heads, that would make sense.  He has had me do an exercise where I tie something around my wrist (a bathrobe belt or a scarf), put my arm behind my back, and pull the belt up above my head until I feel the pull in my shoulder.  Gently, it should feel like a stretch, not a yank.  Your hand should be in the center of your back, laying against your spine.  I hold it there for about 20 seconds, and then repeat several times during the day.  After just 3 days, my shoulder is nearly normal.  He did say not to have anyone else helping you, b/c only you can feel when you need to stop so you don't pull anything.  I hope that works for you, if you want to try it.  I hate that ache.    

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • DJJ
    DJJ Member Posts: 229
    edited July 2014

    Lisa, Woohoo! Don't mess with us!! My radiation team switch me back and forth between machines several times for various reasons.  Once you get that date in your head that is what we focus on.  When I left work for my last rad is was pouring down rain, thundering, huge bolts of lightening through the sky and the sirens in the parking lot were going off "Tornado warning, tornado warning".  I didn't break stride, I didn't run through the rain, I didn't even pull out my umbrella.  I just walked getting soaking wet to my car.  A tornado thinks it can stop me from my last appointment. Ha!

    Michelle, I'm glad you felt better enough to eat. 

    Barbara, Love the picture!

    Today I hang glide! Woohooo!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lisaj514
    Lisaj514 Member Posts: 719
    edited July 2014

    DJJ, love the rain/tornado story. That's you, that's us! Love your spirit girl, go hang gliding today and love every minute of the freedom! Tell us about it and send pic. Off to Rochester to move DD stuff out of storage unit and into her house she'll be in for grad school. She doesn't go for real until mid August. 

    Rad appt was good yesterday although had to wait 15 min and the 2 girls had to stay a little late for me but they seemed to understand the urgency of me not missing an appt....and I brought them cookies to thank them for changing and understanding. Good to schmooze sometimes. Here's my lovely rad outfit. Only 5 more days to wear this sexy top

    image

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories