Starting chemo September 2014

Thanks so much all for sharing your info about SE with me. I read what some of you are experiencing, and feel guilty that I seem to have gotten off so lightly. :-)

Had my heart tests today, and everything seems to be working perfectly, which I guess means I will be receiving the AC treatment on Oct. 15. Just trying to enjoy feeling good for however long it lasts. Ironically, I was very worried about my appetite, but I seem to be eating like I am going to the electric chair!

Call me crazy, but I actually went on a job interview today, which went amazingly well. A friend who is currently battling myeloma works there and said they have been wonderfully supportive of her throughout her treatment. I explained where I am at in the treatment process, and the boss was very understanding, and was talking as if an offer is coming. I really hope it works out! I seem to do much better when I don't have too much time to be stuck in my own head, the soon to be ex is being quite a pill about finances, and good grief, but having cancer is so expensive! It would be such a blessing to get the job!

Wishing all of you a wonderful, SE free evening!

Welcome Susan! There are so many wonderful, supportive ladies here!

Wiping the pets down with baby wipes can help with our sensitivity to their daily odors. They also sell doggie wipes at the pet store.

I'm exhausted from last weeks' treatment, but my MO says I'm doing great! Wow, so this is the new "great"?!

LARock, Tobycc, Daniella & ilovepugs~  Thank you for welcoming me in with your responses to my post!  This seems to be a great place to park!  Lots of great support going around here!

Today is day 5 for me!  It's up and down and around and around!  I am not sure where this will stop?  I just know that I can't stop!  I have kids to get to school, homework to do ( I am currently repeating Kindegarten, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th grades )   sports to watch (hockey, baseball, football, dance) and a business or two to run....   

I will see this to the other side!

Did I mention that my head REALLY itches!!!

Hi Susan.  Your chemo is almost the same as mine.  I'm due for my 3rd A/C next Monday.   Then on to 12 weeks of Taxol along with Herceptin / Perjeta every 3 weeks.   Hope your sides are as manageable as mine.  BYW, I am in awe of you ladies who are able to work.  At age 71 the only job I am capable of is getting through this treatment, one day at a time.  Hope all have a restfull night.  Planning to see my granddaughter tomorrow.  She is expecting a new baby girl in December and wants me to see the nursery she snd my daughter are decorating.  A Christmas baby great granddaughter!  New life in the midst of all this.  Isn't  God  wonderful?  Love , Jean 

Yes, I have been told I look great too... Then I come home and look in the mirror and think... Okay then!

My nephew complimented me on my new hairdo (wig)... He didn't realize...

Jean and Susan, we all seem to be going through the same treatment plan.  AC then Taxol for the same number of sessions.  I've only had one AC so far and I'm feeling good now.  My next tx is Wednesday and I'm not looking forward to it.  Finally feeling ok and then have to go for another round.

I see that both of you have already had surgery.  I'm doing chemo first then surgery then radiation.  I'm really wondering about the possibility of lymphedema.  The surgeon said it's a high possibility for me and usually recommends wearing a compression sleeve for a year.  I know I shouldn't project out to the surgery but it worries me.  I love to swim and do water aerobics and wonder if lymphedema would have a big impact on those activities.  Have either of you experienced lymphedema since your surgery?  Or, anyone else?  Thanks.

Are any of you doing oral hormone after chemo and or radiation? I am not doing radiation as I opted for radical bilat but either way. I have read up on Tamoxifen-not a fan! Evista & Fareston combo and Armoasin all require menopause.

I ask because I told Hemot I don't want Tamoxifen. She said fine but I would be required to do complete hysterectomy along with ovaries removal. Not a fan there either and here is why...I have PCOS and have had my years of infertility treatments related to LACK of estrogen and increased progesterone down there. ( imagine my surprise to know I was over on both in my boobs; wrong place GOD! lol) Also, that would bring my surgerys next year go up to 3..and all though I'm on medical leave, I do want to go back to work. This stay at home mom/wife is not really for me. 

Poppy, my i buzzed last week as the hair was coming out, it still is in my caps and I have some bald spots but I'm ok with it oddly now. 

Welcome to our new members. I have chemo brain and cant remember everyone lol

HockeyCat, I so hope my SE for my 2nd round are not bad. Yesterday they reduced my Taxotere by 20% & im booked for 1L of fluids tomorrow. 

I cant recall who said people say you look great. I get it all the time to. I just explain make-up is my friend and I try not to visit if I look like crap lol

Hope you all have manageable SE. Welcome to Breast Cancer Awareness month! Although I didn't think we all needed a reminder as if your like me, you're OVER it and ready to get back to life!

Kaya- You should definitely check the Lymphedema thread on this board. Lymphedema is no joke. I'm not sure what your cancer dx and treatment is as you don't have it listed.   I'm not sure why your doctor is fairly certain you will get it.  Some people are affected with one node removed and some not affected with numerous nodes removed.  I'd like to know how your doctor could predict that you would in fact get it.   Lymphedema is not as 'easy" as wearing a compression sleeve for a year and can affect more then your arm.  It can be permanent and require long term physical therapy. This is just a short post on a long subject but I would be questioning that doctor at length  

Wishing you all the best

Hi again Kaya- Thanks for sharing your history- its public now:) I'm familiar with Lobular cancer that is part of my DX as well.  I had a mastectomy and now chemo, the reverse of you.  I understand staying away from the threads in order to preserve ones sanity...there's only so much one can deal with at a time right??  It just sounded like from your original post that the doctor was preparing you for Lymphedema for sure...so glad thats not the case. I have had cording in my left arm (another lovely SE of mastectomy) and thankfully started PT with a certified Lymphedema therapist just 4 weeks after mastectomy. I was an avid exerciser and the cording did prevent me from enjoying my regular classes. After 8 weeks of P/t 2-3x pr week, I'd say I finally have 85% range of motion back. I'd say early intervention with this was the key.  Certainly having a Yoga instructor daughter will be awesome for you!!!  

LARock, Yep! Hot Flashes... and I'm also premenopausal! It is my understanding that with chemo, our ovaries might put up a fight and bring on the period from hell, too.

The fatigue, sleeplessness and mental fuzziness seem to be the longest lasting SE for me.

Toby, Sorry you are in so much pain. Have you called your MO to see if they can change/add to your meds?

I think we are tough just for getting through this!

Tobycc, sorry you're having a downer of a day. Today was actually the first day I felt like myself since tx on Friday. Perhpas it helped that I took some Tylenol PM and got 8 1/2 hours sleep. The chemo cloud in my head seems to be lifting! I'm finally able to eat but things taste very metallic. Only meds I'm on are Claritin and Ibpropen.

DH seems to be coming down with something and, if so, he's getting banished to the guest room until he's better!

PoppyK, that does not sound like fun. Thankfully (?), I had a previous bout of cervical adenocarinoma in situ which resulted in a hysterectomy. I still have my ovaries so will have to deal with menopause but no periods.

See my MO tomorrow morning.

Kaya -- I too had ILC and had a BMX first and will have my #3 of 4 chemo infusions tomorrow.  I was given exercises to do a week after my surgery and then my surgeon sent me to an Occupational Therapist to avoid lymphedema and cording issues.  I have been seeing her twice a week during my off weeks and the exercises are great and I graduate to harder ones every time I go and have had no issues with lymphedema or cording.  In fact, the massage she gives me as an extra little perk is wonderful!!!!  

LARock -- I sweat all the time on top of my head.  When my head was shaved I had a nasty case of eczema and went to the dermatologist and got some shampoo and other cream.  As long as I have hot flashes, I have to put up with this.  My fan is my best friend!!!! 

Toby -- I am sorry you are in so much pain, things will get better.  I have been putting my feet up after I get home from work and that seemed to help last time.  I hope it helps this time around.  Think positive, you are one more day closer to being done!!!!!

So sorry to check in tonight and see that some of you are hurting. I hope you are able to get a good night's sleep, and wake up  feeling better in the morning. 

My spirits were a bit in the toilet today. Dealing with a divorce is even harder than dealing with breast cancer! I was so down today, but I forced myself to get off my butt and take my son to a kid's group at our local cancer center. He had an absolute blast, made a friend his age (6), and there was a parent group at the same time. I learned so much from another couple that was there. Dad has a reoccurring brain cancer that is incurable, and is doing a clinical trial involving some sort of magnetic stuff that I don't even understand. I was completely in awe of this man and his outlook on life, and he and his wife were so helpful in sharing how they have handled this whole journey with young kids. My pity party was over right then and there! Thanks God for putting people I needed in my path!

ilovepugs, don't be in awe! I am being really picky and choosy about what gets my attention these days, and forcing my type A self to let the rest go. I honestly think that if I didn't have to keep strong for my little guy, I would be in a puddle on the floor! I focus on his stuff: school, scouts, soccer, and my medical stuff. The rest...eh. I buy premade salads and precut veggies and fruits and take as many shortcuts as I can while trying to keep us fed a halfway healthy diet. We won't even discuss the housework issue--it's not even on my radar these days. As long as we have clean undies, I can ignore the rest of it! I was hoping to not have to work until my treatment was over, but my soon to be ex is being completely awful about every penny he gives me, so it's looking like work will be coming sooner than I had hoped. I know it will be a slog, but I refuse to be beaten down by cancer, or by the man who was too chicken to get through it with me. Some days,the anger is what is fueling me!

I have heard from so many people that having cancer changes you, and that many people see their cancer as a blessing. I would always think they were nuts. Two months ago, I had no idea this was all coming, and it amazes me now to see how much I have changed already. I am not quite ready to declare it a blessing, but I will say that it has forced me to slow down, take a good look at how I am living, appreciate those true blue friends that are holding me up, and realize that I am far stronger than I have ever given myself credit for.

Yes, Badhairday, it's really peculiar how cancer can be a blessing in disguise. It can narrow your attention to what is really important in life, and what is absolutely not. I remember some high profile celebrity giving an interview after having gone through a well publicized battle with cancer a few years back (for the life of me I can't remember who it was) and she said that same thing. She said cancer was the worst thing that had ever happened to her and the best thing too.

When it's all said and done, your kids will remember the time spent with a loving mom far longer than whether the laundry was done or how spotlessly clean the house was kept.

On a self pitying note, I wish these SEs would  go away. I'm on day 9 following my second AC and I still feel crummy, and I've got another one in 5 days. It only took about 6 days to get back to normal after the first one. I was hoping I would have at least a good week in between the bad weeks. Maybe I have to admit I'm not superwoman.

When I went back to work the first of the week, my sweet boss lady handed me a small package containing two very pretty head scarves. She knows I'm really not down with the whole wig thing, so I was very touched. People can be so nice, and I must learn to accept the kindnesses offered me. That can be difficult for me, as I know it is for many of you.