Starting Chemo March 2015

IC- still have but the co helps

mine did. Still prune but haven't blistered or anything. Somebody on here suggested monitoring heat contact and I have been trying to be more cautious. Meaning hot dishwater, cooking with heat, etc. my pruning seems to be primarily my thumb, index finger and the f*ck cancer finger. My ring finger and pinkie are okay. It happened after round 2 and I am now one week post round 3 and it hasn't escalated. The person who posted watch heat made sense to me because those are the fingers I use the most when cooking. Hopefully you can see it , particularly on my thumb. Oncologist said nothing, just asked about tingling or loss of sensation.

ok just got home and looky what was in my mailbox. I'm clueless. But laughing and grateful. There was a thank you note from the shop owner but I don't know why.

Anybody want to fess up anything?

ootay oolcay!

Katy, I wish I could take credit for this one but not me.  Love it though!

Thanks for all the sweet comments about my cat Rascal. I said he was dying but it will be up to me tomorrow. I have a vet that will come to the house and unless there's something we can do to improve his quality of life tomorrow will be the day. It breaks my heart but the poor thing can't run or climb the stairs and now is having trouble getting in his box. He came to us right after 9/11 and I always told my kids he came to us to help us get through such a terrible time. He did his job. I really appreciate those of you who shared your own losses because I know you do understand. A loss is a loss, dog or cat or friend, right?

I am so grateful for the women on this thread. It's one true blessing from this sucky disease.

I hate to bring up my standby again, but I use coconut oil there too. Sometimes after my bike rides I have chafing or soreness, and a long soak in the bath tub followed by some coconut oil seems to help.

Carrie, did you test for a yeast infection? Just a thought.

Carrie - I'm noticing a slight burning sensation when urinating, and definitely having dryness. Not to an uncomfortable level, though. One thing I have noticed is a really strange smell - not the usual nether region smell. It's more potent. Doesn't really affect anything, just weird and something I noticed.

Anyone else getting the tree ring like lines in their nails? I noticed them in mine yesterday. It really is like tree rings - being able to tell how old it is. I have 3 lines - one for every chemo. Time to paint my nails - so I'll probably be in the same boat as you, Katy, by the end of the night!

Gosh I didn't even notice if I have lines from chemo treatments. Probably because I need reading glasses just to SEE my fingernails hahahaha. Stupid eyes are f*ckd up now too. Ahhhh chemo - the gift that keeps on giving.

Bekah

WPmoon, my MO just told me to expect the rings to develop near my cuticles during Taxol. I was asking her opinion about the dark nail polish. I like the gel idea too. Diane, interesting that your MO is male and kind of blew off your concern...my MO is female and she didn't seem concerned either. I should probably check for a yeast infection too but it comes and goes like Diane says. I do have some coconut oil now. Like Bekah said, the gift just keeps giving. I start my taxol next Thursday too. Gulp!

Katy, that dog tag is awesome!

Katy,

LOVE that charm! That's a good friend!!!

Feeling a little less foggy brained this morning so hoping I can contribute something to the group. :-)

Carrie, I don't know if this will help your nether region problem but it might.

I come to all of this with several other issues already..type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism and a weird autoimmune lower region decease called lichen sclerosis. The skin gets very thin, turns white and rips easily. Doctors don't have much they can do for it that I have found.... Well, long story, not so short...I found on a forum a couple years ago, that Pure Emu Oil helped others the most so asked my doctors and started using it. It has definitely been my savior.

When I knew I was going to have TC chemo, I asked my MO what I should do about...down there...basically, the Emu Oil was the best I could do. I have been lucky, I had a bad time the 1st TC but have been actually better since...I don't know why.

Anyway, it is something you might ask about and try. It is a natural antiimflamitory.

Kathi

Happy Saturday everyone.  Sun is actually shining here in upstate NY, though temp has been going down below 30 each night with snow on the ground...  I just tell myself it means my hyacinths and daffodils will last that much longer. At least we are not having tornados/hail/thunderstorms/earthquakes or volcanoes.

What is it with the sweet tooth?  Water is awful but water with juicy juice apple, not so bad. Spring water a little better than tap.  But keep drinking in vain hope it will help the pruny, itchy hands and feet.  Using Aquafor on hands or Burts Bees hand salve, not sure if it helps. And love No-Crack lavender for the feet. Comes in lemon or unscented too. http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/no-crack-hand-cream-lavender-scented-35085.aspx or on Amazon.

And all I want is icecream or a cupcake or a big cookie, though afraid to go there today.

Cheese - forget about it, ugh! 

So tired yesterday that am absolutely grateful today that slightly less so.  Temp was down this am and pulse less than 100.  Last night all I could think is that I'm not going to go for 4th TC but hopefully will get over that.  But seriously thinking that prophylactic mastectomy on the other side may be necessary because I don't ever want to do this again.  I don't want to have to worry about self exams or mammograms or MRIs or biopsies.  Is that stupid to have elective surgery for something that hasn't happened yet?

So grateful to read everyone's postings here and know I'm not alone.

lol. I just got back from picking up my cookie that was MIA. I told them I have been shopping there for about 15 years and never went back for anything before, but I wanted that cookie so bad that this time I went back. So it is sitting in my table in its safe little bag to have later with a cup of coffee.

If my husband touches it he is toast. But I think he knows that haha.

The lumpectomy vs. mastectomy decision is so tough. Since my lumpectomy was my first biopsy and it came back with wide margins, no other traces, and I have been through an MRI, PET scan and a bone scan, at the moment they can find no reason to pursue further surgery. I told my breast surgeon initially that if results came back badly I was going for the double mastectomy and Barbie boobs. But now I am in a weird zone. No traces of cancer anywhere, but feeling unsettled. So I guess I just monitor with an MRI every six months and a mammogram/ultrasound the other six months. And pray.

The one unpopular decision I have made is I am not doing radiation unless they can do a second surgery and do the IORT procedure. I'm sure my MO is going to go off the charts with that decision. But she also told me that with the chemo I am getting that I don't need to worry about a recurrence while undergoing chemo. So that gave me a mixed message. Does chemo prevent recurrence or not? I have researched the issue until I am sick of researching. I did find one study with opinions from MOs saying that with small tumor and no other indicators radiation might be overkill. But it was one voice in thousands

Mmmm, having a fresh cup of coffee and my oatmeal walnut chocolate chip cookie. And my taste buds are back. Life is good!

Theresa: ENJOY the hell out of that cookie!