Starting chemo September 2014

So glad to hear you had such a wonderful day Badhairday!

Thanks for the suggestion Barremom. I reached out to my MO and he prescribed Protonix for the heartburn and Reglan for the nausea. Hopefully that will fix me. I was able to get down most of a veggie burger for dinner which has become my go-to meal so things are looking up.

A/C is DONE!!!!  The power from the dark side did not want it to happen yesterday.   Major trouble accessing a vein and me crying uncontrollably.  I think k I scared the nurses.  Social worker came in. Even my chemo doc made an unannounced visit to my chemo room! Finally I settled down,  let them do their job and got the infusions. Hallalulia.  I really lost it yesterday.  Don't know for sure what happened but strong, courageous Jean became a terrified blubbering mess. Also it looks like I will be getting more surgery when I finish the Taxol to take out more nodes. I just can't think about that right now.   Taxol starts in 2 weeks for 12 weekly treatments.   I will also start herceptin / perjeta at the same time every 3 weeks.  Good news, I had a sono of my heart yesterday and it was good.  No chemo damage!  I am also getting a port put in before my second Taxol.   No more worry about accessing veins.  Also will help protect the arm from lymphedema after they take out more nodes.. Jesus and I are going to beat this ladies.  Cancer doesn't stand a chance!  Love, Jean 

Jean, so sorry to hear that you had a rough go of it yesterday, but so happy for you that this part of the journey is over for you. Way to kick cancer right in its ugly butt! Glad to hear you get a week off before the next chapter begins, and that your heart has remained strong. Hope the next few days are restful and smooth for you. Thanks so much for being a source of courage and support for me on this AC experience--your words have helped me more than I can tell you!

Fall is definitely here in Cleveland. Damp and brisk and breezy. Really enjoyed my 5 block walk to the bus stop this morning, checking out all the leaves, mums and Halloween decorations. Must say I moved a little slower on the trip back, but forced myself to take in the scenery, instead of being annoyed about how winded I am. This is my favorite time of year, and it's so easy to get caught up in my own stuff, and forget to enjoy it. Have to remind myself to live in the moment more, and see things through the eyes of my six year old, who stops to admire every leaf and pine cone and pumpkin.

Jean, I'm sorry the last A/C treatment didn't go as smoothly as you had wished. To offset that experience, I hope that your side effects will be minimal to non-existent! 

Badhairday....love the good news posts!! Thanks for sharing! 

LARock, I'm glad you got some new prescriptions for nausea and heartburn! Cautionary tale for you ~ I made the mistake of not taking my heartburn pill yesterday because I have been so constipated and thought the heartburn pill was to blame. It was not a good idea. Had that feeling that everything I ingested stayed at the top of my throat. 

Just curious, does anyone here reference Skin Deep's cosmetic database when it comes to purchasing cosmetics, sunscreens, shampoo, etc? I think it's a valuable resource and it's prudent to check the ingredients on the products we slather and lather ourselves with. 

Must run, prune juice is working....way TMI! 

Jean, sorry you had such a tough time but I'm glad your finished with the AC! I think you'll llike the mediport, it's convenient and they numb your skin before they put the needle in, beware though the stuff they use to numb does burn a little.

Badhairday, glad your feet are better! Johnsons baby lotion, who knew, but makes sense, if it's good for babies, good for us!

I'm feeling pretty good today, except for rectal pain, I've got my constipation under control, but still having pain, MO recommended prep H, so I've been using that with some relief, I think every time I go, I reinjure what ever is going on in there, I know, TMI, Im thinking about buying a sits bath for the toilet, or maybe taking a bottom shower a few times a day, lol!

Hope you all are having a tolerable day! Hugs to all!

Preparation H has been my friend for years. Like a lot of women who've had babies, I have had small hemorrhoids for years and years. They don't cause me any problem until something like constipation or prolonged diarrhea pops up. Through this process I have had only minor constipation, but the diarrhea is unrelenting. After the first round of AC I armed myself with a supply of those moist personal wipes specifically designed for toilet use, and a fresh supply of Prep H. It helps tremendously.

On a positive note, yesterday was my last AC also. Hooray. Now on to the taxol and whatever new challenges that might bring.

Sybil, congrats to you on your last AC tx! Woohoo! It helps us newbies to know that this is doable and there is an end. Hope you have an easy time of it with the SE, and wish you the best as you start the Taxol.

Had a bit of an argument with the soon to be ex last night, and I let the aggravation allow me to lose sleep. Shame on me. Took a good nap this afternoon. Have very important things to do this evening with the love of my life, that involve buying a Halloween costume and a new fish. And maybe a new hat for mama. Tomorrow after school, we are going in for our buzz cuts together. I have avoided it as long as I possibly can--time to say goodbye to what's left of the old and accept the new reality. 

I have been wearing a hat most of the time lately because my hair is so thin. Last night, Little E asked me if I was going to wear the hat to Cub Scouts. I asked him what he wanted me to do. So we fooled with the wigs for a bit, and he decided that even though I "look pretty" that it doesn't "look like you". I was so sad for him. He finally decided I should wear the hat because it is cold outside anyway. Poor kid. I have explained this so many times, and I know he understands why I am losing my hair, but watching it happen seems so hard on him. I am going to bring it up with his counselor next week. I hate that he has to deal with this. It breaks my heart.

Today I was thinking about all of the things that I used to take for granted. Mostly silly little stuff, like eating whatever I want without fear of heartburn, pooping normally, washing and putting my hair in a pony tail, wearing flipflops with cute toe polish, not having to flush twice and make wiping a major ordeal, sleeping like a normal person without the help of drugs, having the energy to walk to the store, or to the park with my kid. When you get diagnosed, all of the big things seem so big: surgery, chemo, radiation, hormone therapy, blah, blah, blah. Honestly, it's been the little things that have bugged me the most, and it seems like they all pile up and then choosing the medium salsa, even though I really want the hot one, is what makes the lump form in my throat and the tears well up. I hate this disease and what it has taken from me, both in the big ways and a hundred small ways. Going forward, I am going to have a new appreciation of the simpler things in life. 

I am off on a mission that would have seemed more like a chore than a major accomplishment a few months ago, and I am going to have fun, dammit! (Just pray we find what we need in as few stores as possible, because my Supermom cape is in the laundry!)

MIssion accomplished! Little E now owns a police officer costume, complete with a whistle (I'm sure I will regret that purchase) and a new Betta fish. Hope this one lives for a while, I am tired of having fish funerals! Also picked up his snack for his class Halloween party, printer ink and soda while we were out and I felt like dealing with it.

Kaya, sorry about you missing your Florida time and your grandkid time. I keep reminding my guy about handwashing, and not touching things, because if he gets sick, I don't know what I will do. I hope my post didn't make you sad, but rather got you thinking about it in a positive way. I know I feel awful about all the things I just can't do right now, and even worse when I remember having the ability to do them and complaining about it, or taking it for granted. I think one of the biggest things I will take away from this whole experience is that if you wake up in the morning, able-bodied and healthy, you owe it to yourself and the people you love to appreciate that for the gift it is, and make the most of it.  So many times, I said no to going to the park or the movies, because I was tired or had too much housework, or some other stupid excuse. Now I wish I had the strength and health and energy I had 3 months ago, to do those things. I can't wait to feel strong and like a whole person again. I've got bigger things to accomplish and celebrate than a normal bowel movement! LOL!

moms chemo yesterday learned some interesting things.

1.) Her onc said that she shouldnt get flu shot, however that we all should. and to make sure that we dont get the nasal spray as that is the live virus, shot is the dead one.

2.) my sister had heard graviola tree juice really good for cancer, I never heard of it so asked onc about it, she said not now after chemo ok, she said now that has antioxidants and that could cause damage to heart while on chemo?????? never heard of this she is usually in a rush and didnt get to follow up with should we avoid all antixodiants or just that graviola tree, lmk if you all ever heard of this, I will follow up with dietitian kind of worried about this. 

3.) while we were waiting the cutest elderly women had long thick red hair and said that this is her hair after 18 months and what she did was sleep with a night cap and use anything with tea tree oil shampoo she said was tingly but it worked. another patient said she was 4 yrs post chemo and her hair was extremly thin before was extremely full and still very thin at top. Not sure if tea tree shampoo will work but hey worth a try once chemo finishes. 

Thank you all Im glad to be able to chat with all of you ladies you all provide so much  encouragment for mom I always tell her about you all. she loves hearing it.

Zimastar - I had my period the day I started my chemo.  Haven't had one since but had terrible menstrual like cramps around the time I am supposed to get my period. I started getting night sweats around the 4th treatment. I guess it's chemo pause which is odd that it would happen so early - especially since I do low dose taxol every week. 

I also had PCOS but sort of cured myself through diet and exercise after being on birth control for years.  When I say cured - I would get my period regularly but I still had a lot of the other side effects of PCOS.  That is why I really do not think I need tamoxifen. IF you have PCOS, aren't you already producing too many androgens and not enough estrogen?  Maybe one doesn't have to do with the other.  More research for me. 

Double posting to add to the period conversation...I was actually looking forward to my period stopping, as I've spent the last 2 years battling horrible night sweats, hot flashed, and very heavy periods, sometimes 2 or 3 periods per month! I am almost 48, and the only female in my generation of the family that still owns a uterus. Had my first TC treatment (minus the T due to allergic reaction) on Sept. 23, and started my period on 9/30. I was so disappointed! So far, so good in October. I did a major stock up on feminine products right before my diagnosis in August, and I would love, love, love to end up donating all those boxes of tampons and pads to the women's shelter!!! I have an appointment on 10/28 to finally get the results of all of my genetic testing, and I am hoping to schedule a hysterectomy for the third week in December, depending on the results. (Want to get it in before the new deductible on Jan 1.) Never having a period again would be the best Christmas present I have ever given myself!

nice experience badhairday

Badhairday- Before I got my hair cut I warned most people that I would be wearing a head wrap for a while.  But I still had stares and I would just tell people to ask me whatever was on their minds.  One person commented that she thought I was just trying something new! LOL!! 

I had my hair cut down really and a few days later I had my husband cut it as short as he could without giving me a shiner.  It was just too itchy!

I really want to get a pedicure because my feet look terrible but i think that i will take your suggestion and slather moisturizer on them and wear socks. 

Congrats Jean and Sybil. Badhairday, what a great experience!

I'm having a bad day. Not sure what happened but I seem to have been run over by the nausea/diarrhea bus. I had a bad night, waking up at 3:30, but did make it out for a short 2 mile run at 6. As soon as I got home, whatever this is kicked in severely and I've been in bed or the bathroom ever since. I've taken every med I have and nothing is providing much relief. Hopefully I'm as empty as can be and things will settle down. Not sure if this is a bug, something I ate, or latent chemo reaction for last Friday's tx. Thankfully I'm not running a fever so I don't think it's anything viral.

Jean and Sybil...ring that bell . Congrats you two 

Bad hair.....sounds like you are really  making the most of your situation.  Little E sure has a great mama !  My hair too felt great when I had it buzzed. I am losing my "fuzz" which is a little sad 

Big weekend calls for DH and I to wash wig for first time.  Calling salon to maker sure I have instructions right. I think she said leave conditioner in. I ordered some cotton caps for under it. Pretty comfy. 

But still throw it off in the car!

LA....did you get a hold of your MO?  New Meds?  

I had a reaction to the taxotere this go round. First round thought bottom of feet hurt as part of neulasta pain. Two days ago my hands started to peel, and get red. No itching, but opening and closing hands really hurt. In between thum and pointer bright red and raw. I took pics for my MO....I go to a satellite office closer to work for blood draw   Charge nurse said it is a cumulative taxotere reaction. Cover in utter balm and aquaphor 

Sounds like a lighter dose next time or change. Surprised my WBC was only 8.5 one week post tx.  First time stayed high until right before second dose

So I feel like a bloated bald guy from Frosty. ....or is it Rudolph?  Damn chemo brain. The narrator with the big tummy and skinny legs and arms.  But with blotches 

I hate being a whiner. I really do.  

Straight to bedroom for this mama after work.  I need a light movie with DH, or a chick flick on netflix. 

Thank GOD for you ladies 

While I was waiting to see nurse I saw a young man, maybe 19 getting chemo. Pretty stark stuff at times 

La, keep us posted Poppy, everyone else thanks for keeping us cheered!

Kath