April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

good morning ladies I hope everyone is feeling well decent at least. Today is date night for the hubby and I. Going to try my wig today out in public to:) I'm just wondering how many of you has less yucky feeling with their taxol treatments? My MO told me most people do better on it- but I want to actually hear some ladies stories myself. Does the fatigue usually build up over time? And about the nails- do they get worse over time? Is that usually the drug that causes eyebrow and eyelash loss? If so can some ladies recommend some awesome eyebrow products? Is it sad that I'm more worried about my eyebrows than my hair?! I just worked so hard to get these brows looking awesome and now I'm going to lose them?! Anyway I hope everyone has an awesome day with minimal SE

alliecat - hang in there. I know how hard this is and especially when you are dealing with other pressures.

Addie - beauty with that wig and without!

Ksusan - heh, heh! Love your partners response!!

Arlene - survivor you are! We have made it this far and there ain't stopping any of us bald chicks now!

littleblue - you are spirited with humour! Way to go despite all the chemo SE and pain

I am coming to accept that this will be a new normal, one where I cannot let my guard down as I move forward in treatment. I am always in awe of the people who are in stage IV and fighting cancer off. I have met so many that turned a 4 month prognosis into over 15 years of life! We got this and by the time we plow through this stage, newer treatments and technologies will make our lives longer and cancer free. The clinical trials I have been researching are promising

Hi Cyto_Destructo, welcome to BC.org, and welcome to this wonderful group! We're sure these ladies here will help you deal with everything that comes along with your treatment. Keep posting, and let us know how you're doing.

Hugs,

The Mods

Hi, I second Renee's recommendation for the Look Good, Feel Better program. I don't think I ever posted a review of mine. I was able to find one at a local hospital - not the one where I am getting treated - for after work, it started at 5:30 PM. There were only 3 people, I think they expected more. One woman was on rads already, but she still didn't have much hair. The other one had been through 2 treatments and was with her daughter - they were so cute. She had ovarian cancer.

Anyway, I got a Clinique eyebrow pencil, it's called "instant lift". The color is perfect for me - I have very pale brows anyway, and I hardly ever wear pencil because they all look too dark to me, but I've been wearing this because I figure I'll get people used to seeing some eyebrow color so that when I have to paint them on it won't be so weird.

The program was good, we did our makeup first, and you get free make up from moisturizer to lipstick, and then we practiced scarf tieing and tried on all sorts of headwear. The presenters were awesome.

I have to say, though, that the these other two ladies were the first women that I've seen with wigs that I knew were wigs and didn't think they looked that great. The woman who was doing rads - she had her wig for a while now, and the wig presenter said it probably needed to be trimmed and styled and that she would to it. They were both longer styles. The ovarian cancer lady, her wig was new, but it came down to her shoulders, and something just looked fake. I thought of all of you - how fortunate we are - because you all are rocking the wigs - even Andrea's hot pink wig!

Lynne

Stephmoen, sorry about your reaction, but I'm glad that they could continue with your Taxotere Big hugs, you are so allowed to feel down, this situation is highly stressful, and our threshold for reactions is lowered by that stress. Please come here to vent ANYTIME. Your son's poster brought tears to my eyes.

Lisa, did final shot help raise neutrophils?

Swissm2002 – how are you doing after AC#3? I had my worst day 3 and 4 after my 3^rd treatment, but I think a lot of how I feel is attributed to the Neupogen shot, which you don't have. Wishing you no/lo SE

Jen – lol about them turning us into trees. I want to be a redwood! I am checking with my bald co-worker on tips, he is very cool and knows that I'm going through chemo, so I know he'll be real with me. I still have all-over fuzz, and I have been using Dove sensitive skin body wash to wash it in the shower. Wig probably needs it first wash this weekend – they told me every 14 days of wearing.

Sheila, so sorry to hear that #3 was so horrible. Mine was bad also, but no puking!

Andrea, I also developed mouth sores, really tongue sores – they are along the left side of my tongue, and it is just miserable. Now after #3, same thing – on Wednesday it started coming back, and by now, it makes eating and talking very painful. Last time, I bought some benzocaine mouth sore relief, and it does help for a while. I did everything to prevent. I started taking Lysine when they appeared last time, and I swear that helped, but I did reduce the dose once the sores were gone, I probably should have stayed with taking 3-4k mg.

AJ and Tina, good luck with your next phase of treatment!

Lorraine, I keep wanting to say bummer about your anal fissure, but then I crack myself up about the unintended pun. Sorry. No Laughing Matter. I'll probably get one now – but I'll have your good tips!

Karen, good luck at the SPA today, AC#4 – Yay! Sounds like a lot of us had our butt kicked with #3. You and I are on very close schedules because my #4 is on Monday. Then on to Taxol DD for me.

Laura! Good to see you check in, let us know how you are doing after round 3. Hopefully those shots will help. I have to look in my "knowing your blood counts" book to see what ANC is, I'm drawing a blank.

Stacy, how are you today? I hope still no SE from the Taxol. Did you have any reactions?

Allison, I was wondering where you had been, I thought you had mentioned that your children were visiting, so I figured they were keeping you busy. Don't let DH (and, in this case, it doesn't stand for "dear husband") bully you. I love the idea that you will be able to help other women who are going through this alone! That's an awesome way to look at it. Oh, and I'm not feeling like I'm doing so great with working and small (well, is 9 small?) children. I am scraping by.

Ksusan, LOL at your partner's comments.

Cyto, welcome. We love late to the party , brings a new infusion (and usually some much needed alcohol). Sorry you have to be here, and that sucks about blood clot.

Arlene, thanks for your post and picture, it's very inspiring. And, right back atcha.

Renee, good luck at #3 – Karen is also going to SPA today.

Heather, I know I saw a post from you, but now I can't find it. I was glad to see you check in. We are on similar schedule, I'm just one day ahead of you. I should see MO on Monday for the first time since I started. I'm guessing that this is so we can discuss Taxol schedule/what to expect, etc.

To everyone else, even if you haven't checked in in a while, I'm thinking of you and sending positive energy.

I'm signed up for Look Good Feel Better on July 6th, I'm very excited to go:)

I am feeling pretty good today, 12 days out, except for the tongue sores. It really sucks, because other than that and the fatigue, I would feel almost normal. I ended up squeezing my toe yesterday, and I had a lot of fluid come out, and now that actually feels better.

I worked at work from Tuesday - Thursday, and today I am WFH. I have to go to neurologist to have botox for my eye twitch - something that I was treating before bc. I am also busy getting my daughter's dress ready for her 8th grade semi formal.

I am dreading next week. I know I shouldn't be paying interest on money I haven't borrowed, but I felt so shitty on day 3 and 4 after #3, that I just don't want to do this again.

I'm also trying to decide if I should go on a full-time leave of absence from work. I've been taking sick time, but just applied for a partial LOA that allows me to be paid up to 8 hours a week for time off due to illness. I could go out on full-time leave and get paid at 100% for 60 days. I feel ok and like I can do my job on week #2, but then I don't have any energy for anything else. I get dinner made, and some laundry done, and that's it.

At work, I had 2 of my project re-assigned, so I'm only at 50% capacity. This week my manager mentioned giving me another assignment, and it doesn't sound too taxing either, but I'm torn - should I even take on something new? What if I feel or decide I want to take a full leave? Should I just do that now so that I don't get into a place where I have to transition even more. I'm so conflicted. I know that I could push through - I'm sure I could do whatever was required at 80% time, but it will take a toll on my family life and responsibilities.

I think I will have an answer after next week - once I meet with MO to discuss Taxol, and also how I feel after #4 will give me the information I need to decide, and hopefully I won't have gone too far down a path at work. I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Lynne

Lorraine! Love the looks - rocking both!

Ok, here's what my buddy Don (bald Armenian - so funny because his beard still grows like crazy, so he's totally bald on top, but has all this facial stubble), he's definitely a metro:

1. Buzz using clipper at 0, don't shave - that creates breakouts and requires more maintenance.

2. Moisturize morning and night after washing - he uses a 30 SPF moisturizer that he gets from the place he gets his facials (told you - metro :-)

3. Make sure that clipper blade is oiled weekly.

That's it.

Lynne

KBeee! I forgot that was tomorrow! Oh my gosh, good luck!!!

My MO said partial reason for us being tired is having less red blood cells to move oxygen around - so exercise actually can help more than rest in that case, as it gets those cells moving and delivering oxygen more quickly! (not that we don't need those naps!)

Lynne, and anyone else trying to balance work, I have always worked full time, type A driven personality. Even thru pregnancy complications at age 29 I worked as much as possible. I think there is a balance we have to find and that is different for everyone. I have made a decision to give up my position that I love dearly but is too toxic of an environment. HR has agreed and sided with moving me (I believe my standing up for myself with proof convinced them that I was in a hostile, discrimination situation) I hope to be taking a position that is flexible, full time, and in a completely different entity real soon. Feeling excited and nervous about it as not what I had planned during treatment. But why haven't I learned by now not to plan, right?! LOL

Ac done! That last dose kicked my butt for 11 days before i felt better.  I had a headache for days after i quit taking the anti nausea meds.  I cant imagine that red devil more than 4 times that's for sure.  Anyway i start weekly taxol Monday.  I've been trying to catch up on here with who had already started it and how it was  going. I'm nervous.  Here is a picture of my youngest loving on me.  She loves mamas bald chemo head. 

Welcome to the community EmbraceHappy! We are glad that you reached out. Keep us posted on how things go for you. Stay connected. The Mods

thanks for the uplifting posts everyone littleblueflowers you always crack me up! Kbee thank you for the advise I am going to ask my oncologist about abraxane I looked it up. I am receiving my neulesta shot and fluids today and my chemo nurse said to me I think you need to talk to your dr about stopping taxotere you scared me yesterday and I'm afraid your reactions will get worse ugh not what I want to hear now I have to wait almost 3 weeks to talk to my oncologist about what to do next

going for an event at kids school