November 2014 Starting Chemo Crew

Chris, love and hugs to you! So sorry this is a really rough one. Hope you start getting some relief soon!

Dee thank you so much for the love and hugs, much needed and much appreciated, this one a rough one

I'll gladly wait for the improvements. Love and hugs back to you, how are you doing?

Dee, good you're doing well, I found myself tired just before this chemo, view with the territory I guess, rest, don't push it

My every empathy on your hair, I didn't want to shave either (still haven't)' I am mostly balding with a few bits left that I can comb over, I'm keeping them as long as they stay. I did gets gobs of hair on the 2/3r4 days then it's eased up, I got so itxhy I gave in and brushed for relief (that and pain), what we dove for the hair we love right?

You are strong, strong enough to stand by the self you know

Many hugs and much love, and yes I cried during hair loss stags, then would rearrange and have what fun I could find

Hi All it's been awhile since on here. Not to scare anyone, but I had a horrible 1st round with my chemo. Ended up in hospital for 4 days. Doctor said I am one of 2 patients that has had every single side effect you get. :-( I don't want to scare anyone with details, just know its unusual to have such bad side effects and every one of them. I go in for my 2nd round chemo tomorrow morning. I am very nervous and scared of going through it all over again. He doesn't want to change the strength of the chemo yet because of being so close to triple negative. So we shall see how it goes this round. Still waiting on my BRCA results to come back. Hoping and praying for negative results. If it comes back positive doctor wants to remove both breast and possibly ovaries. If so, 2nd opinion here we come.

Erica thank you so much, I was in bad shape yesterday but slept til noon and am gently easing into the day, so far not horrible... How are you feeling today??? Hugs and love to you!!!

Hi sheeba102;

Sorry you're having an awful time with treatment.  Sending you positive thoughts and wishes that next round is easier and thereafter.

 Same wishes for all my BC sisters.  Hugs to you all.

Chris, I am thinking about you and sending warm thoughts and healing prayers your way. May all the pain go away now. I don't want any of our chemo peeps to be in any pain through this journey and know that they are with others here who love and care for them too. xoxo

Sheeba, Hugs and prayers for no pain or SE's from here on out. We are feeling for you now and hope all gets better soon.

Dee, Sounds like you and I are on the same track. Still have my hair on day 9 but feeling some hair hurting…just an early sign, but i have felt that before, especially when i wear hats all day like this time of year. I stopped at a cute shop this afternoon, kind of a women's cozy boutique set up in an old house and I bought a lovely hat and scarf. Thought a treat would be nice today. I think it will be nice for when the hair goes away. (building the options now..)

thinking about all my chemo ladies every day. xoxo

bonnie

I've only posted once on here, but I read through often, especially when I am depressed about chemotherapy, and am constantly re-inspired by everyone's strength and resilience. Then, of course, it reminds me of my own strength and I go back to taking one day at a time. It's funny how all these cliches suddenly became so real for me.

I had my second round last Monday, and although the SE's were not as bad as the first, I felt bleh for much longer than the first round. That being said, I also had a nice bout of strep throat halfway through my first round, and now I have a nice cold/cough that won't go away!

I'm a bit frustrated that I will have chemo three days before Christmas, but it also gives me the perfect opportunity to pull the cancer card. Christmas chemo??? My family will just loveeee me

I must say, to all those ladies who are afraid of losing their hair. I cried for days at the prospect, but it got so painful to HAVE hair that I was like shave it the f*** off (excuse the language, but I have cancer!). Now, I'm not going to lie, I look in the mirror and I think to myself "I might always buzz my hair, I love my bald head" and I can get ready to go out in about 15 minutes. What could be better than that? So all I have to say is, you might surprise yourself, and you might love your beautiful, bald head!!!

I can empathize with all the women who are losing their "woman parts," I'm only 27, and I got married two weeks after my diagnosis. So needless to say, there will be no biological children here. But it definitely gets me off the hook with the mother-in-law, especially since I always wanted to adopt and she never understood why!

So I wish everyone luck with their next rounds! Get out, live life, enjoy all the things that make this fight worth it

sashield....love your attitude....LMAO at mother-in-law comment !

Sashield: You and me 3 days before Christmas...kind of bummed, so I'll celebrate the solstice on the 21st instead. Sorry you have to go through this so young, but I'm with ya!

cc: Thinking of you with sympathy.

My second round was about as bad as the first. A week into it, I started getting a burning, itching hot red rash and blotches on both hands and arms just like last time. Today I went to the Doctors and he said it was a reaction to the Taxotere. He gave me additional steroids, some steroid cream, acid reflux medicine for heartburn, and I'm taking Benadryl and ibuprophin. I got a second week slump as my immune system bottomed out. I just am not used to feeling sick, but glad I called the doctor so they can adjust things.

I'm reading everything but can't keep up to comment on each one. I like the Facebook format but want to stay engaged here.

Hang in there, everyone! Keep posting...T

sashield, why not rock the bald look even after if you love it, I never shaved, most is gone but have a tiny tail left and enough for a decent "comb over", which I've stolen from balding dudes

If you do lose your ability to have children it's not lost adoption sounds fantastic and it definitely does get your mother in law out of pressuring you for that! 3 days before Christmas is bad, mines 4 before New Years, but at 53 I don't go out, I feel like I should take your week and swap you mine as you're young enough to enjoy it that bring said I hope you get your Christmas despite chemo coming before it. Praying it's an easy round this time for you and you feel better from that stupid cold, hugs

Thank you all for your prayers and positive vibes and hug :) darn steroids are keeping me awake. Lol been up since 3am. I too have been doing the comb over lol. Seriously considering shaving in next day or two. Finding hair everywhere is getting annoying. I did get it cut off short last week. Just coming out in clumps. I will try to post a pic...hopefully it will work haha. I will continue to fight through this journey. I have a wonderful hubby, 6 yr old and 2 teenage daughters that need their momma :) prayers to all you who just had chemo and are struggling :-)

Sheeba you look beautiful lol on our comb overs, it got rough with the pain and itching but I just kept gently brushing and that relieved it for me, the hair did get all over but for me I just couldn't shave (stubborn!). Will continue to keep you in my prayers, hoping you can get some sleep, you definitely have many wonderful reasons to fight - sending you more hugs and love

Sheeba, beautiful pic! I'm with you on the hair issue, mine just started shedding this week and scalp is painful. But I'm still not able to shave it. I have a Christmas party on Sat and am wondering how to wear what's left of my hair or should I tuck it into a wig? It's a small neighborhood party and they all know my situation but I'm still finding it hard to be out in public with a wig. Guess I better get used to it!

Chris, wonder if we will both continue to hold out on the shaving? I just want to keep what I can as long as possible, even though it's getting everywhere and scalp is hurting. Hope you are doing better now that it's been a few days since chemo?

Marcela, so sorry you are struggling! And had issues with your veins. This process is so overwhelming, you have every right to vent and even be negative if you feel like it. I have gone there too in my mind many a time. I think we all try to stay positive but veer off that path sometimes. It's ok. Allowing yourself that I think can help you move on from it and pick yourself back up again. We are here for you too!

Sending love and hugs to all! We are getting through this one day at a time.