Starting chemo September 2014

Poppy, was thinking of you today. I changed out of my pajamas, into clean pajamas! LOL! Hang in there, only 1 more to go for each of us!

Slept a lot today, but was able to eat, and no heartburn or nausea so far. Friday is when it usually kicks in, but I am scheduled for IV meds and fluids at 10 am, so hoping that does the trick.

Finally wised up, and set up the visitation schedule for Little E to be with his dad for 3 days post chemo, so I can lay around and relax and sleep without guilt. I have hardly moved today, so I think it was a good choice. I'm planning to give in to the fatigue and just try to sleep it off. Fighting it just ends up with me in tears and feeling like a horrible mom. My onco suggested listening to my body and crashing out when I need to.

I don't know what I am looking forward to more, the return of my hair or the return of my energy!

Melannmor, I had a terrible allergic reaction to Taxotere, but it was immediate and anaphylactic, so I was switched to AC. Toby also had issues, and is being switched to a new tx. Hopefully she will see this and chime in, as her situation is more similar to yours. I hope you get it all straightened out and feeling better.

Trying to get myself moving this morning. Have to leave early for tx thanks to lake effect snow. I love Cleveland! So far, so good on the nausea and heartburn, so I am braving the weather, hoping to have a puke-free weekend.

Jean, so glad to hear that you are doing so well with the new tx. Hope your hubby continues to improve as well. You are so right, we can do this!

Went in for Neulasta, some fluids, steroids and Ativan. I am feeling like a zombie right now, but a non-nauseous, non-heartburn having zombie, so I will take it! Back in my pajamas and have a hot date with a stack of DVDs and my couch!

Hi All,

I'm dropping in from the September 2013 chemo group. I have been thinking about you a lot the past few weeks as the weather shifts into winter for many of you. This time last year as the weather got cold, I was hanging out in pajamas and wondering if I would ever feel good again.

I just wanted to drop by and give all of you some encouragement. I finished my chemo on Jan. 14, 2014 and my hair is so long now that I'm thinking of getting a trim! Hubby and I just finished a month-long vacation with lots of camping and hiking. Things like that were only a dream for me last November. Now, my energy is back...pretty much back to normal. Chemo is becoming a dim memory although I'm really aware of how much better I feel this year at this time compared to last year.

Hooray for all of you for being a part of the Sept. 2014 chemo group. It is one of the best things you can do for yourself. As many of you know, our September 2013 group created a private facebook page for ourselves after we finished chemo. We waited until March to do it and all of us were done with our initial treatment. We are still going strong as a support group for each other. I hope each of you find tremendous support here, not only now, but in the months to come.

Wishing you the best.

Kay

Toby, great pic! You look awesome! How did the change in tx go? Hope your SE have settled down.

Kay, thanks so much for the encouragement. The closer I get to the end, the harder it gets to get through some of the days, and hearing from people who are a bit ahead gives a ton of hope!

LaRock, good to see you.

3 hour nap for me.Now to figure out dinner. It is Snowmaggedon here in Cleveland. So glad I don't have to leave the house this weekend!

Toby, you look great!!!! 

Badhairday, Sounds like you have a great weekend planned.  Enjoy it!!

Toby, nice pics. You look great!

Nomatter, I have no advice, as I would be using the duct tape! LOL! I have found that BC is a lot like pregnancy. Everyone feels compelled to share their experiences, good and bad, and give their opinions. It's annoying as heck! I have become very good at changing the subject. I hope you get through this with your head held high. You have earned it! Your coworker is unprofessional and your boss should really be more forceful about her big mouth!

Thanks for the advice Toby.  Confidentiality is the number one priority in our law firm and HIPPA concerns are number two.  My boss, Managing Partner and myself had a conversation today and there will be a firm wide e-mail go out that let's everybody know that under NO circumstances are they to mention either of our cancers to anybody and if we want people to know, we will tell them ourselves.  If clients ask anybody, they are to tell them that they will have to ask us directly if they want to know.   I have been at this firm for 21 years now and this function is "my baby" and I have to tell you, this is the first year that terrifies me. 

Badhairday,  I still like the idea of Duct Tape. LOL!!

Jan

Nomatterwhat, Glad you have a plan to handle this! I don't think it's a minor issue at all. It's nice to have a "cancer-free" place... such as with clients, or certain friends, or school. The Open House is your baby! I can understand not wanting to spend all night taking about stupid cancer!

Toby, Guess the above comment applies to your fund raiser, too.

Speaking of hair.... Today I went to my youngest son's school to bring root beer floats to his class to celebrate his birthday. When my son first saw me, he gave me a strange look... big eyes and shaking his head "no". I assumed it was because I showed up to his classroom sporting my short and sassy red wig. Tonight, my little guy told me he was concerned when I showed up at his school because he didn't want me to get sick. I guess I'm still self conscious when wearing one of my wigs. I usually wear hats or scarves.

Well, i went to my MO yesterday and he has decided to forgo my last treatment. I am officially finished with chemo!!!! I completed 75% of my therapy and will start the Tamoxifen in two weeks. I was wondering if there are others on here that stopped on the third treatment? All my cancer was removed seeing as I had a Double Mastectomy and no nodes were positive. The only reason the doc wanted me to take chemo was my onco type score was 19. I feel pretty good about it and my doc seems to as well. He was just afraid after my reaction to whatever it was could have possibly been to the taxotere and thought that if we tried the last treatment I may end up in the hospital. Hope all is well with everyone and Thanksgiving will be a great day with family for all.

Melannmor, congratulations on being done! It must be such a relief. Having an allergic reaction is no small matter, and the fear of that is pretty rough to deal with. I'm the girl who is allergic to everything, and I hold my breath every time I have tx, waiting for it to happen again. (No matter how much experience you have with an epipen, it's never not scary!) It sounds like your doctor is confident that you have done what you need to, and it's time to take the next step. I wish you the best!

BHD,  I have looked up bearded dragons.  Seriously??  You are a better mother than I.  LOL!!!!!  I'm sure Little E will love it and what a neat surprise.  You are going to have to post pictures of Little E and his new pet.  Give him hugs from me and tell him Happy Birthday. 

Poppy, thanks for the link. I bet a mom thought of that! LOL! I

Robin, my legs hurt so bad I am leaving work by 3:30. Feels like I caught 4 baseball games in a row.

Taking glutamine, b6,b12, to ward off neuropathy

Good news ...got the okay for free cleaning today! Once a month for 4 months. Org is called cleaningforareason if interested. Mine is through MaidPro

Took about a month, but I am feeling blessed! Going to lay in the couch in my bald glory and enjoy them cleaning!

Gentle hugs and prayers to all