Starting Chemo March 2015

welcome Marciabh- I did look into hats with hair/chemodiva. Very nice woman. My brother was all set to spring the $300 as a bday prez. But my hair was too short. You need to have 6-7 inches for them to work with it. I was disappointed because my hair was very pretty strawberry blond. Gone now, and who knows how it will grow back in. I didn't exactly like the losing my hair thing, but it isn't even in the top 5 of my issues at the moment to worry about. I'm getting along just fine without it. There must have been a bald lady inside me tring get out

Hello Ladies, just checking in, spent 7 days in the hospital so I have had a rough ride. My first infusion was Feb 26 went in to hospital March 3rd. I am glad to hear you all seem to be  doing well, my wishes go out to you for that to continue.

OMG Revup- so very sorry you are here, and had to be hospitalized. Do you feel a little better to be back home again? What a nightmare for you. Sending a big hug your way.

Katy

Trvler, congrats and good on you for bravely making it through a very hard day. You will be a little sore and bruised. Big, but gentle, hug, going out to you.

Katy

Thanks, Katy.

jackbirdie- i'm sending you big big hugs. keep pushing sister..

my week has been rough. emotional high/low from the steroids, and the sleeplessness and sweating. face and chest redness,nausea and bone pain (from the neulasta) achy, persistent headache and today started with funky skin rash around my neck and cleavage and back (probably from the taxotere) and sore throat. i saw psych today and on call MO who gave me some things to hopefully relieve the symptoms. fingers crossed. glad theres 2 weeks between now and the next dose. i don't think i could take it if it were starting again on monday.

good weekend - easy weekend- symptom free weekend to you all.

michele

Hi everyone. I was just diagnosed yesterday so have no plans made yet for my treatment. I just know I'll be having chemo, surgery & possibly radiotherapy. I'm waiting for a date for a body scan to see if the cancer has spread to any wear else. I have a 2-4 INCH lump on my right breast, left is clear but cancerous cells found in a swollen node in my right armpit. Have no idea what to expect and I'm petrified. I've got 4 children aged 24, 22, 17 & a little 6yr old girl. It's her I fear for the most.

Thank you all for sharing on here it helps so much.

true that, Italychick.

Shaz, if I remember correctly you are on the Terrifly Awesome Chemo regimen?

I didn't forget haha. Never did come up with a name for mine though. I think the %s are quite high, in the 90 %tile that you will. That means, no, not everybody does. You should not force yourself to do anything you are not ready to do. Your body will let you know when it's time, if it ever is time.

You've had a lot of trauma. I worry about your headaches. It might be less stressful if you just make an airtight, military-like, campaign plan, that you will exercise with precision when the need arises. Ask your hairdresser how likely it is she could just squeeze you in on a moments notice. Or could your partner buy a good quality razor and do this for you at home when and if the time comes. Buzzing isn't styling up you know. One must know their way around the equipment safely. Bottom line is figure out your worst fear and plan for that. It sounds to me that taking your hair by your own hand is a kind of homicide. I know many feel that way. That is worse than becoming aware it's coming out, sitting down, and commanding your army to take Troy then!

Had my chemo port put in on Tuesday. It still feels very strange - like there is a lot of pressure in my throat when I bend down. Anyone else experience this? Can't believe I start chemo next week.

Msmath - I am a middle school science teacher and I, too, am missing my students. They would make me laugh every day and I am missing that immensely! (I'm not missing grading papers, though .

you look great with short hair!

you look FABULOUS!!!

That's a great pic, I love the soft lighting, background color and flowers. Love it.,

yes, so-she-did! I had exactly that sensation, like pressure on my windpipe, every time I got out of bed, into bed, leaned over, sat down. Awful! I thought something was wrong with it. But just your body saying it doesn't like a foreign body in your chest.

I am a slow healer, and it took about two weeks for that sensation to go away. It's still somewhat sensitive to the touch.

But they've used it several times now for chemo, draws, etc., and it is functioning fine. Because it is sensitive, I asked for and received the prescription cream that numbs it. I put on a dollop an hour before use and gently cover with press and seal. Except I don't press. Hah! They still use the freeze spray too and that helps also. Because I have turned out to be such a wuss, I take all the help I can get. All the time.

Thanks gals! I let my 13-yr-old DD chop and style for a good hour before we got to that point. She had a blast and said it was the best day of her life!

Update on pain. Pain is controlled by Percocet (Oxy) but when that wears off I'm back to agony. No worries...better living through chemistry right?

It's so weird because I took the Claritin starting the day before my shot and for 4 days after like I've seen recommended. Apparently, I'm one who needs to take it 7-10 days! So I'm back on Claritin for now.

Dropping by with some love for you all. I wish none of you were having to go through this but how fortunate are we to have these drugs with such a high efficacy rate.

One person told me as I was terrified at the start of treatment last year that I shouldn't be afraid or angry but to embrace the healing power of the drugs. It was a good shift for me to make to get into a better headspace.

Since Taxols work by making the cytoskeleton rigid and brittle I decided to call it Medusa. Carboplatin and platinum based drugs work by messing up DNA replication so I named it for the Greek god of war and confusion, Cydoemus.

I hope that you are kept safe through treatment and that it goes by quickly for you.

Ann