Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!

A relatively innocent question from my husband last night sent me into an extended, sobbing meltdown that bled into more uncontrollable crying this morning. I hate this SE worse than all the rest put together. Feeling marginally better this afternoon.

My GP quit her practice and I have to go the clinic tomorrow morning to establish care with another GP because the clinic wouldn't let me transfer my file to another GP without an office visit. I'm dreading both the exposure to sneezing, germy patients and the conversation with the new doc:

"How are you?"

"I'm only here because I was forced to be here to transfer my file to you and I have cancer and I feel really, really shitty. You?"

End of rant.

mLisa I am also in the same boat with looking for a new pcp. My old primary closed his practice. Now I am researching a new doc.

With regards to nails mine have been ok. I keep dark polish on them. I am 1 week pfc and my nails actually look better now than when I started treatment. I started taking a skin, hair, & nails vitamin a week ago and it's working. I actually see small dark new hair growth at my hairline. For those on taxol my neuropathy got better with the final reduced dose. The b6 & 12 vitamins worked to ease the tingles. I feel more energetic and am increasing my activity level daily to build my stamina.

Just checking in to wish everybody an easy day.

Right now physical health has to take a back seat to psychological well-being: my right hand hurts from lymphedema, but the swelling isn't as bad as it's been, so I've just been taking pain pills, so I can do crafts. I'm making a couple of counted cross stitch Christmas ornaments, something I've wanted to do again for years. The embroidery part is done; hope to sew them into ornaments tomorrow. I also made a 3-D snowflake out of printer paper for the window. I feel so grateful and blessed that my next chemo is delayed a few days until the Tuesday AFTER Christmas, instead of being moved earlier to just before, so I should be at my strongest right when my kids visit for a couple days Husband does not like the Christmas season at all, but I love it. So I'm going to enjoy it!

mom2 I am taking biotin. I started last week after my final chemo. I swear it's working. My head looks darker, like I have 5 o clock shadow head. And there are a lot more colorless fuzzies on the sides of my head. But I am most excited by the dark brown hairs coming in on my temple and top. I haven't seen my natural color in 20 years, so I'd be happy if the colorless turned brown. Maybe someday I'll be blonde again.

so pleased for younLindy! Well done.

Congrats Lindy and Shopgirl!  I am sharing your delight today as I finished, too no bell to ring --just smiles around. Phew!

In 5 weeks I will get a series of tests then the ooph (considering full hysterectomy) and estrogen blocker. I asked if she thought aromasin and she said her patients have done better with Femera (sp?). Any thoughts on that?

I have been on biotin from the beginning. My nails are fine, but a bit ridges, if you know what I mean. No hair benefit that I can see though. 

Cajun I love the chia pet reference. I look more like Buddha. Cran juice to head off the uti?

Finland - so glad you are enjoying your crafts. For xmas I bought adult coloring books and nice colored pencil sets for my 25 year old daughter and son's girlfriend. Wish I bought them for me,  too. Crafts are so relaxing. Really a form of meditation, don't you think?

MnLisa- hi to you neighbor! Heard you got some snow. Glad you are plugging along on your taxol path. I love your positivity. You inspire me. 

Have a great weekend everyone. May you get all your presents wrapped and find something tasty to enjoy. Not necessarily.in that order. 

Congrats Shelly, Shopgirl and to the many just about ready to finish up their chemo....It's seems like forever but we're getting there.

Radiation is next for me in a few weeks but in the meantime, I'm now on the "hair watch". I avoided looking at my head for weeks, too depressing. So now every day is an intense scrutiny to determine any new growth. There is another thread on the board for hair that I'm checking out. Good stuff there.

My brows and eyelashes are jumping ship but I found youtube helpful in tutorials on how to draw in very natural looking brows. As for the eyelashes, I'll just wear eyeliner and my eye glasses all the time. Not sure I can do fake lashes (never done it) without glueing my eyes shut..lol

Shopgirl..Yes, I had the reduced dose again. The last round #3 Taxol was definitely easier with the reduction and while I still had a few days of joint pain, it was nothing like the crippling effects of the full dose Taxol of round #1 and #2. My MO was fine with me doing the lower dose as I told her I just couldn't tolerate it and continue the full dose and would refuse...it was that bad! And I'm not a crybaby (at least I wasn't before this).

And I agree...lighter brows is the way to go...avoid the old Joan Crawford look..lol

Lindy I'm really glad your mo reduced the dose again. I had the 3rd reduced by 40%, then the 4th reduced by 50%. I am not a whiner but I couldn't take the numb legs any longer. And I was having issues with being able to pee, which I found out could have been bladder neuropathy. Thankfully that issue is gone now,

Cheers out loud to Shopgirl, Lindy and Shelley for finishing chemo!! Love that we are all reaching that point with our group that we can celebrate these milestones.

I am sitting here in chemo round #2 - week #6 of 12. Mid point, yahoo! I am more fatigued as each treatment passes so did some research and learned I am not getting nearly enough protein for my weight. I have also lost 14 lbs (which I needed to do). The formula I read said for my weight, 125, I should be. Consuming 62 grams of protein per day in about 2400 calories. NO WAY has that been happening! It's so hard when your tongue hurts and everything tastes yucky.

The dietician just came by and I asked some questions about the right kind of protein. Here are a few things I learned (knew a lot already but reinforcing) Quinoa has 8 grams protein per cup, soy beans, tofu, any beans (I love them in home made veggie soup), deviled eggs (of course I knew about eggs but just hadn't thought about doing deviled), and of course meats an fish. She also verified the range of 60-65 grams per day. Should be my goal.

Love to all, I'm finished for the day

My MO said I could probably skip the last Neulasta shot, too. And get deported next month. It's all far more exciting than it should be. Shopgal, you're getting deported a week after your last chemo?

Edwsmom-While I was on A/C I lost 24lbs. (which I needed to loose more, just not the ideal way to go about it) I pretty much lived on potatoes, pasta, yogurt, beets, oranges, peanut butter on toast and purple Gatorade. Every once in a while vanilla ice cream. Most meat turned my stomach and unless I added vinegar to the vegetables I could not eat them. I have always loved chocolate and I couldn't eat it at all. Since I started Taxol, I have been able to increase meat consumption, chicken, turkey and fish and I can eat vegetables again without vinegar. I was hungry for the first time since August after the first Taxol, I think because of the steroids. Not sure. But I have not lost anymore weight.

I was wondering, What are you guys using on your scalp? Shampoo, conditioner?

I have had a really hard time with loosing my hair. I've always had really long, very thick hair! I had convinced myself I was going to be that one woman who didn't loose her hair, Of course because I had so much. Well by the time I took the 4th AC I had to get a wig. And I have refused to look at my head without a hat or wig until this week, when I realized it was dry and peeling some. (yes I know I sound crazy) So now I've seen it.........

I think I've lost more hair since starting taxol and most of what I have read on here, most people start growing hair back on taxol???

Anyways what is the best shampoo, conditioner, lotion, vitamins for scalp and/or hair regrowth? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Cajunqueen- that was so sweet an kind of you !