Starting Chemo March 2015

great update Joanna. Relieved to hear you wanting to go home and complaining about the food. Must mean you are READY! Try not to worry about the delays and efficacy. Your MO will do the right thing via the big picture. I have confidence. You've been through such a disappointing time. Now we'll pick you up and put you back on top. Thanks so much for posting. I know we all were awaiting anxiously for this improved outlook.

No nosebleeds or problems with urination here. But I do have the constant runny nose...I think it's because the nose hairs aren't there to 'catch' the drips anymore!

Headaches...ughhhhh!

Bekah

Trvler- sorry the port still hurts. I swear mine took forever to stop hurting and I read so much saying people had no problem. Well I did. It is better. I feel pretty certain you won't hate it still in a couple of weeks. I know that's too long to wait. But Pauline and I are finally friends.

And yes, I have in the last couple of days experienced a lot of drippy nose annoyance. No sneezing. Just constant snot rags in my hands, blowing and wiping. Didn't have that as I remember the last time. My worst SEs are the very ugly and painful rash in my "nether regions" and the fatigue. A little nausea, but the zofran alternated with compazine helps a lot.

Went commando in public today! Wanted to show off my new peridot butterfly earrings and my hat didn't match. horrors! So I whipped it off! My neice has me running. I'm exhausted after a day of sight seeing and driving aimlessly, pursuing all interesting roads. She is helping so much and I managed to eat, hydrate and exercise. I am tired, rash may be a little better, but mostly feeling loved. Life is good.

Just checking in. Nosebleeds for several days and then constant dripping in between. Called MO office this am and they called back sending me to ER on the way to work for STAT labs said I might need a transfusion! I didn't but got started two hours late for work, more behind with more projects. I'm so sick of people saying "Wow you cut your hair!" and then not being satisfied with "yes" they feel the need to know my reasoning behind such a profound f****ng decision!!!  I'm sad and tired and I'm really trying to "handle it so well."  Most negative post ever. Sorry

I'll read up on everyone soon. I'm sure it will cheer me.

K42720-Welcome to another fellow horse person. I would love to hear more about the eventing you did and possible paths we may have crossed, ha! I'm having a hard time today but did want you to know I'd love to communicate more.

Molly- I'd love to be a fly on the wall for some of those conversations!

I use the EMLA cream an hour before I go for both blood draws and infusions. Cover it with Press n Seal. Plus when I get there the freezing spray. I am a wuss and take absolutely every opportunity that exists to mitigate pain and discomfort!

Katy,

Feeling loved is so Important!

Lynn

I have some nosebleeds too, but not much. A little runny nose, while the inside feels dry.

I got the port, because my veins have been misbehaving lately and I did not want to experience chemical burn and tissue damage from Taxol.

I had my 5th Taxol/Herceptin today and I saw my MO's PA today and asked her about the vaginal bleeding. She says that chemo will push me into menopause and this bleeding is one of the signs. I'm supposed to call if it gets heavy or lasts longer than three days. They do check my blood every week. I started to take iron for my anemia a few days ago and my red cells and hemoglobin improved. Platelets are perfect.

Nevertheless, I'll make an appointment with my gynecologist; I'm due for the pelvic ultrasound anyway.

I also asked about the revision surgery of my TE, and not only it is out of question, they most likely will want me to wait 4 weeks after chemo. She told me to ask the MO next week.

They also gave me more Zofran in the IV premeds, since I complained of almost daily nausea. Hopefully this helps

if you get silver, keep it in a dark place. You don't need much, just a tiny amount.

http://www.wateroz.com/product/silp/Silver-16oz-Pi...

The technology comes from NASA.

where do you buy it? Health food store

Oh duh. Just saw the link. I can buy there. Thx. Chemo brain

Love coconut oil and use it for just about everything!

A little tip since we are among friends here...it can also be used as a vaginal lubricant before sex. Perfectly safe for the delicate parts, not sticky, safe if ingested by your partner, and smells good. It will leave an oily looking stain on the sheets but it's way better than anything on the market for the same purpose.

Of course, now everytime I put a dollop in the frying pan to cook something DH thinks he's 'gettin' some' LoL...men are like Pavlov's dogs I tell ya!

Bekah

I was just at a friend's place for his b'day dinner. He has been a huge supporter - checking on me, helping, etc. Tonight he said the thing that pisses me off the most. Are you sure you really need chemo? As though I flew into this blindly. I've had a few people tell me all about their friend/sister/mother/etc who had "the same cancer" and didn't need chemo but didn't expect this from this friend. I tried to express my dismay at his comment w/o starting an issue but it was hard. I decided when discussing tx that a few months of chemo was the least i could do to hopefully prevent recurrence. It really bugs me when people assume to know more than you and your oncologist.

blech

Welcome Kazza! I think you will find this group very supportive and informative.

Sharon, same issues here; dryness and have not gotten a period since before all this started. Must be a side effect. And another one they really don't warm about is the lack of libido. Or maybe that is just me.

I have really started to notice the chemo brain in the last few days and it SUCKS!! It is very frustrating and sad at work for me right now. I feel very "out of it."

Round 3 of AC tomorrow just in time for Easter weekend. Make me sad knowing I will most likely be very out of it this holiday.

Hugs to all!

A lot of us on this board live in the country where the medicine is on one of the highest levels in the world, if not the highest. I personally know a couple of people, who instead of going to see a real doctor and follow a real doctor's orders, seek out alternatives only. I just don't get it.

My family lives in a country where you have to wait for months to see a specialist (my Mom had to wait for over 6 months to see a cardiologist), months to have a test done, years to have a hip replacement surgery, etc. My aunt found a lump in her breast in December, waited few weeks for a mammogram, another few weeks for the results. Weeks for an ultrasound, weeks for the result. She just now had a biopsy, a few days ago. Of course still waiting for the results. In the same time frame, I already had mammograms, ultrasound, MRI, two surgeries, and have been on chemo for a month.

My Dad died of cancer, before he even had a diagnosis. We found out 3 weeks after his death. He didn't even have a chance to fight it.

I'm sure a lot of people in my country of origin would love to have the same access to doctors and treatments as we are here, and I just get angry when I see people in this country dissing the modern medicine and not taking advantage of all its progress.