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

Kbeee - you do us proud! Amazing and inspiring.

Beachbum - thank you. I am going to look into the Livestrong program.

GingerChi - Sorry about that chemobrain; it really is something. I said something to my friends that I could not remember a couple of minutes later. Fog stuff.

I am looking forward to the AC folks being done; the TC and other folks getting further through the treatment. Progress... I say this with a comical look on my face as I have the endless menstrual period, which my MO told me might happen to people like me whose menstruation won't shut down with chemo. Silly body can't figure out what to do.

Anyone checked out www.thehijabstore.com? They have some amazing head covering options. I just ordered two head wraps from them that are like tight fitting hoods and cover your neck and shoulders a bit...I think they are going to be great for sun protection under a hat. Makes me wish I lived in a more diverse area so I could wear hijab style head coverings without getting harrassed.....

KBee, you are such an inspiration! I'm so impressed with you and feel you ran for all of the us -thank you!!!

A few pages ago, someone was asking about wigs and all things hair.

Can we talk about something else that I can't really explain to others?

BO....body odor.

I gave up my usual antiperspirant not long after my diagnosis in December when I began to research all about breast cancer. I had read about problems of aluminum in antiperspirants. Since then I've tried several products: tom's of maine, salt stick, even rubbing alcohol....and nothing stops the BO.

Anyone found something that really works?

NOLA in summertime ain't nothing nice!

love the shirt Littleblue! Your brother sounds amazing!

Thank you Alibeths!! I'll check it out! I see you're in Florida, so you know all about tropical heat! UGH..... So not ready for THIS summer and having radiation in July - August.

littleblueflowers that shirt is awesome, I bet your oncologist love them!

Good for you Addie! I had my last ride this past Wednesday......not too sure Im looking forward to Taxol though.

Allicat, I use ' lavanilla the healthy deodorant' which you can get at sephora. I've used it for two years now and really like it, it is expensive but lasts about 8 months.

Everyone hitting " the bar", minimal SE!

For those starting taxol, when I did it 2 years ago, I was plagued with horrible bone pain mostly in my thighs. My Onc kept upping my pain meds until I was on some pill form morphine- didn't help. But I just wanted to let you know that it only lasts a few days and is doable. My last RX, I thought I'd try a heating pad and it did help a bit- wished I hadn't waited so long to try it! I really just found sleeping to be problematic - between the aching and restless leg feeling it was 3 sleepless nights- but left after three days! Try a heating pad if you get the pain. I think I was an extreme case. Good news is that nausea was non existent

actually the ac now causes me extreme body pain. I've had back pain since I started the ac. I do use a heating pad for the first few days after chemo and neulasta and it does help. I also lather myself up in bengay lol I always smell like mint.

Chemosabes who are riding today, GOOD LUCK! Crap I'm late for work! Oh and baking soda is a great deodarant...just pat it on...

So lots of us heading to #4 this week! GO US!! If I could go today I would! I'm anxious to get this train rolling as fast as possible!

Good luck ladies! And those that have moved on to Taxol (and Herceptin/Prejeta maybe) good luck as well!!

ugh I just realized that my first fill with my expanders is only 2 days after my last ac. This is going to suck!

At Phoenix airport heading for Illinois and AC treatment #3. Having weepy emotions today that I can't seem to keep at bay. Thinking I will take an Ativan once I board. Sooooo wishing this was #4 so I could at least celebrate half way point. Normally we fly Sunday and get chemo on Monday, but MO is off today and he doesn't like to use PA if he can avoid it.

I really wish I had been on the every other week schedule so that I would be further along. My son's piano and voice recital is October 24th and I think I may miss it due to timing of bmx. He's playing/singing Thriller. It's going to be fabulously epic and I might miss it. Chemo doesn't even end until mid September. Surgery might be mid October at the soonest. Anyone know how long it will take me to heal enough after bmx to get on a 1500 mile, 3h 45m flight? Delaying until after recital might be possible, but this Arizona girl is getting nervous about Northern Illinois in November. I know....get over it.

Supplements...A naturopath and nutritionist are part of my treatment team. They have me on Mitaki Mushroom extract, L-Carnitine, CO-Q10, Super B Complex, D3, Calcium, Fish Oil and Melatonin. I already took the d3, Super B, Calcium, and fish oil before DX, but they would have been added if not. I have been reading about the glutimine and plan to ask them about that this time. However, I agree that my SMTWTFS organizer is already quite full...especially once the nausea starts rolling and in addition to the nausea meds, constipation meds, Claritin for the neulasta, and Ativan to help me sleep...but wait there's more. I got medi-honey for throat and mouth sores that flair during days 1-10, and hydrocodon sitting at the ready for pain just in case. Avoiding that one for obvious reasons. I hope everyone getting their treatments this week gets the rest and comfort we all deserve. Thanks for being "here".

Dizz - Are you glad you are getting treated at CTCA? Do you feel the care is better than you would have received in Arizona?

Best of luck to you on round 2!

Sue