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

Good idea. I'd also enjoy beating something with a stick. Maybe there's whipped cream in my future if I have energy to whisk.

I am in the pollen hot spot for the US today, and we may break a heat record as well. See that red blob? Yeah.

Can you say "I think I'll stay inside and listen to an audiobook instead"? I have made a pitcher of cucumber-lemon-ginger water.

Littleblue, Let's get deported somewhere with a nice breeze. A cruise, maybe? I need to add "get tomoxifen" to my list for late August, plus "get Rx for bra/prosthetics when I can stand it." Also: "Learn some abdominal exercises to compensate for the breast-free Buddha-belly."

Yea KSUSUSAN!! Congrats on being DONE with chemo!! And sorry you're in the only red blob in the country. I'm in NOLA and our heat and humidity have set in already. I ran errands all day Friday wearing my wig and the thermometer in my car said 95! It's going to be a LONG summer in this wig!

My last trip to the chemo bar is Friday! I CANNOT WAIT!!

Littleblue: When is your final chemo tx?

And as for deportation, I'd love a post-chemo cruise, please and thank you!! But I'm settling for a week visit with each of my kids, including a brief girls weekend with my sister and her two daughters to see my daughter perform in a regional professional theatre production of Mary Poppins!

I PRAY that I can get my port out soon. Many cancer patients at my hospital have told me the docs like to keep it in. UGH!

I asked my MO at the last chemo about dates for radiation and he said we'd set that up this time. All I know is that I'd start radiation "a month after chemo"....but I don't know if that's the first visit to the RO or what. No matter, I went ahead and scheduled these trips to see my kiddos in the month in between. We'll have to schedule doctor appointments around them.

Anyway, praying for few SEs for all those going to the bar this week!

Count me in for wanting to beat something with a stick! It would be nice to turn the tables and not be the one feeling like I had been beat with the Chemo/Neulasta/Nausea Stick.

Things were slightly better for me nausea wise this round...well at least for the first 4-5 days. I must have appreciated it too much and things started getting sea sicky again yesterday. Mouth sores are flared again. Same ones as before, so I guess they just heal 'enough' to go dormant and then get brought back after each new round. Naturopath prescribed L-glutamine powder this time. I tried it one morning instead of the baking soda/salt I was trying. YUCK! Anyone have any tips on making that palatable? I'll be taking it regularly when I start Taxotere/Carboplatin next month and I'm having a hard time 'stomaching' the idea.

Way more exhausted this round too. Hardly doing anything around here. God Bless my mother who has basically moved in with us to help. My big achievement for today was making a hand made birthday card for my son who turns 11 on Thursday June 11th. I'm so pissed that this all happened right before his golden birthday. And, I've made all of his birthday cakes since he was born. This will be the first year I'm not actually baking for him. Instead, I had my husband put in an order of DS's favorite french pastries and for a chocolate Happy Birthday plaque to stack them around. So, I'm not baking or doing the legwork, but at least I can take the credit for the idea being one that DS will absolutely love.

Freaking out at having to adjust to a whole new chemo regimen after I finish AC. OH! Even better, my first Taxotere/Carbo will be the day before my Birthday. Happy Birthday TO ME! If only there was a birthday fairy I could write to and request minimal SE's for my birthday.

I'm so happy to read that some of you are done and nearly done with chemo. I can't wait to be right there with you!

What?! Allicat...why on Earth would they want to keep our ports in....heck no, I want it out as soon as I'm done!

I missed everyone's bday...Happy Belated Birthday.

I finished AC#4 last Wednesday and it was definitely the hardest one. I even threw up yesterday, which I haven't done since I started. But, today, I'm almost feeling like myself. I'm looking forward to not being nauseous all the time. I can't wait to be done! 2015 has been an effed up year!

Commenting on the aversion to water...it's crazy. I have such a hard time drinking plain ol' water, when it was once the only thing I COULD drink. And the thought of chemo, everything that involves it, literally makes me sick to my stomach, too. But, like so many of you said, it is a necessary evil, so to speak.

I actually have yet to wear a wig. I just rock the head scarf or hat, and that seems to do me just fine. When people comment on my new "haircut", I laugh, and then tell them how it's not by choice, and then explain to them what's going on. I have 3 wigs, that are for fun, but I haven't really felt compelled to wear them, yet.

I'm doing pretty ok. I have my moments of weakness, which basically comes from severe fatigue, and when I have 3 young kids and a husband to take care of, it can become overwhelming. My husband has been so great. He doesn't complain when I don't cook, cause, I literally quit cooking altogether. I can't stomach preparing meals anymore. We eat what my mother in law makes or takeout. Tomorrow is his birthday, and do I think I've planned or bought anything? Heck no. I wish I had the energy to do something nice, but, I just don't.

Have a great night ladies. xoxo

ugh I hear you guys on the water phobia...it's so hard to get down!

Dizzparkmom..you are welcome to come beat on something lol...rather than just being beat on by this dx!

Allicat, I still have a month and a half of taxol left...I'm just impatient. And my surgeon likes to pop ports out asap..he says they are bound to get infected at some point..

Chemo is so weird! I haven't had an appetite since dx...lost like 20 lbs although a lot of that was tits and muscle. Until...the switch to taxol. Now all I want to eat is spaghetti sauce.

Birthday ladies! Happy Birthday! I wish we could all party together someplace bequtiful! Here's to a long and healthy life!

Has anyone heard from Stephmoen? Hope she's feeling ok!

Feeling kind of rough...flueish and sore lower back. Need to get some excercise once the sun goes down...

Also! Toe Sox definitely help sore hot feet. Wore mine all day, no new blisters!

Congrats on last chemo coming up, Steph! I don't know how you feel about therapy, but it's helped me so much to get through this...my therapist is a specially trained oncology social worker, so she kind of gets the dark places we can go in our heads. The American Cancer Society will spot you 6 free phone therapy sessions, at least I think so...hugs, sister!

I wish I would lose weight with this chemo. I've gained about 10 pounds and hate it. I told my MO I was going to start dieting and he just about ripped me a new one. Told me if I show up losing weight he will admit me and force me to eat (joking I'm sure)

Awe, Steph, I'm also on antidepressants, and can't imagine what I'd be like without them! Both pills and God has gotten me through this. Hang in there, you're not alone....we have a reason to be mad! and sad!

Addie, We do have the same diagnosis! We had a shitty Valentine's Day! I was diagnosed Triple neg after I had my lumpectomy, and considered having a mastectomy, but BS said it wouldn't change the fact that the cancer could show up somewhere else in my body. Don't beat yourself up for gaining weight. This is the one time that you deserve some pleasure, let it be food, if that's even possible!

I've lost about 5-10 lbs since I've started, and I'm not gonna complain! I haven't really been exercising, like so many of you. I don't know where y'all conjure up the energy. I walk to pick up kids from school, and do yardwork, etc, but running marathons??? You ladies amaze me.

gingeel if i didn't come back positive for brca2 I was just going to opt for the lumpectomy. And Valentine's Day is actually my anniversary also so I didn't let them dx ruin that. The hubby and I still went out and celebrated:) I refused to let this ruin it.

And my doc did say that now is the time to indulge. He said if you want cake and ice cream eat it- have 2 helpings if you want- lol. I love my MO. I was pretty active before chemo but can't seem to muster up the energy to exercise now. I even bought a mini trampoline so I could just jump on it while watching tv but I have yet to actually use it and my 2 year old yells at me to get off it lol she thinks it's hers. I don't want to lose a lot of weight but I just want to tone and be fit. And on the topic of mouth sores I always get them in the same place as well.

Ksusan- So happy you are done with chemo!! Wahoo!! I have to say, I'm just about 3 weeks out and damn-I still fatigue out so easily (like foodshopping is a big event!). I'm sure with everything they put my body through since November, this is fairly common but I am looking forward to getting back my old energy soon. Moving forward-good luck with the radiation. So, so happy for you

Kbee- U totally crack me up!! Yes, for those of you on Taxol-it is true that while Taxol is "easier" (and I use that word cautiously), the digestive issues totally sucked! I was blessed with BOTH severe constipation which was then immediately followed up by 5 to 9 days of diarrhea. Oh and then six weeks of hemmorroids caused by the constipation/diarrhea "super combo". I wish I could give you some "helpful hints" to alleviate these SE's but nothing I took (& I took a lot of stuff) really improved the situation until I finally finished the Taxol. Kbee, thanks for the birthday wishes! It's so funny how "C" can totally change one's perspective on things... I remember last birthday that I dreaded moving closer to the big "50"-now I'm thrilled to be able to celebrate my 49th tonight with my DH & kids-A margarita and then fried ice cream for dessert....Bring on 50 next year-hell, I'll even have perky boobs!!!!

Addie- Here's a little positive news...I realized this morning that I must have rolled over during the night and fell asleep on my stomach. The expanders usually annoy the crap out of me when sleeping but I slept through the night. I'm just about 3 months out since they were put in. Not too much back pain on my end.

Lynn-Happy Birthday a bit early. Thank you once again for all your on-going support and for all your organization of our group-it  has made a world of difference for so many of us!

On a positive note about the dark places we go in our heads, my sister-in-law, who was stage 3 and more positive nodes than I am, has been NED for 10 years.  She reminded me last night that she spent almost every day of chemo planning to quit because she felt so bad.  But she didn't, and today she's really glad she stuck with it.   Reading the "prognosis" stuff is scary.  But remember it's all old - 15 year survival rates are 15 years old by definition and the stats have changed pretty dramatically in the last few years.   

Happy Birthday to Fran!! Enjoy your night out tonite!! Now I'm craving ice cream! lol

Happy Birthday to Lynne tomorrow!! Hope you have a fun celebration in store!

gkodad, lol lol , too funny!! I never had a brazilian before now either. LOL

I went to a Look Good, Feel Better workshop last night. I really enjoyed it! There were some great products in the makeup bag too! The sessions probably vary a little based on location....at our session, a cosmetologist instructed us on makeup, and a chemo nurse was there and gave us tips about surviving treatment. They also had wigs for those who wanted to try them. I believe the wigs had been donated and were free if you wanted one. I wore my own wig, and the cosmetologist styled it for me, she did a great job. I wish I could make it look like that. LOL During the makeup session, we were all commando. That was the first time I had gone sans wig in public....it was liberating almost. lol Even if you aren't interested in the makeup so much, I think its a great program. It felt SO good to be with other ladies who understand and are going through the same thing.....I think I'm going to look for a support group to attend. It just lifted my spirits to not be the only chemo patient in the room! Check it out here if you're interested: http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/

Lifting my water bottle to everyone getting treatment today and this week! Good luck and here's to few SE!!

GingeeI actually did have both removed. I had a bilateral mastectomy on 4/1 and am currently working on reconstruction with tissue expanders. After chemo is done I will have a hysterectomy. And on the topic is sugar- my mo has said nothing about it. If any of you ladies watch The Big Bang Theory picture Rajesh- that's my oncologist. Lol it's a running joke in the doctors office. My nurse will actually knock on the door and say "penny" 3 times like Sheldon does. I guess when you work in the place like that you have to have a sense of humor and I'm glad they do. Even my treatment nurses are all spit fires. I absolutely love them all. And i lost all my down there hair like a month ago and my arm pit Hair- that's I'm not complaining about. Does anyone else still wrap a towel around their head after they shower or am I the only one that still does that?

Sunshine: Yes I have read all about cancer and sugar. But I read it on my own. My MO, the nutritionist, and even the hospital dining options (when I went in after the first round of chemo for high fever) included high glycemic options like pasta, white rice, potatoes. "Butter" came with one of the meals and it was chemical-laden margarine. I told the oncologists and resident team when I was being discharged that I was disappointed in the lack of healthy options and that margarine & chemical sweeteners were served. They looked at me like I was crazy.

My MO and RO are also anti ANY supplements during treatment. They have only sanctioned me to take my multi-vitamin and extra vitamin D. Since last summer when I began to focus on my health and started eating clean, I was also taking a number of supplements including green powder and others to help support burned out adrenals and improve my gut health since I have Crohn's disease. These supplements helped me go from exhausted, depressed, and stuck on the sofa all day last July to working two jobs by December when I got the bc diagnosis.

I also learned on my own that my type of cancer - 95% ER+ - was likely fed by my fat. I weighed 230 pounds last summer, my highest weight. At the time of my hysterectomy in 2011, I weighed 185 - still about 30 pounds overweight but not in the obese category. Fat produces estrogen. AND I was taking a LOT of bioidentical estrogen. I have now lost 45 pounds and after chemo will go back to eating clean (no grains, little dairy, organic fruits and vegetables, with little organic meat) . I've allowed myself to eat whatever was appetizing during chemo.

My MO said it didn't matter what I ate! He said I could eat all the cabbage I wanted (cabbage & other cruciferous vegetables have glucosinolates which some studies have shown inhibit cancer cell growth) and it wouldn't matter. Well, I take the approach of throwing EVERYTHING at my cancer: chemo, radiation, arimidex, AND foods and supplements that will likely inhibit cancer growth!

When my MO said I would need to take arimidex for 10 years to inhibit estrogen in my body, I asked if they did a baseline test and then monitor estrogen levels to make sure the drug was working. Arimidex is known to cause blood clots, some heart attacks, and osteoporosis. He said no that it wasn't the "standard of care."

It frustrates me that there is such a DISCONNECT between official standard of care and common sense natural approaches.

Sorry.... I'm stepping down from my soapbox now. Carry on with your day ladies!

I read your articles. Sorry, I will stand by what I said. There is variance, just as there are in rumors, but overall, organic foods of all types and limiting sugar is important. I could write a book here, but will not. I have worked with children with Autism and other developmental delays for 25 years, and could give you hundreds of articles and first hand information on the value of nutrition. And, out society will never take on the Cattle industry - both beef and dairy, or the chicken farmers. It is all about money and big cooperations. Everyone has a right to their own thinking. I am simply sharing.