Starting chemo August 2017 - would love some moral support!

Paulette - I feel like the only things I want to eat are either spicy, acidy or unhealthy or a combination of those things. Im having a hard time thinking of healthy and bland and delicious.

So glad your fever is gone Rebekah. Those mouth sores sound awful. I'm trying to do what I can to avoid them. I hope they get better soon.

I love the idea of renaming chemo and looking for the positives. I won't call it "poison" as I do see it as a life saver. The real positives for me is finding out how special my friends are and feeling so much closer to my husband. I did not know he could be quite this nurturing. My children have been spectacular and it is just like we have all slowed down and are paying more attention to each other. We had busy life syndrome very badly.

My first infusion was mostly uneventful. I iced and boy was that cold. I hope I kept my poor feet cold enough to prevent peripheral neuropathy. Also the pharmacist decided that I was not going to take steroids on day two because of my diabetes. My blood sugar was very high last night after the infusion so I believe it was a good call. I've been instructed to take Zofran very eight hours starting today (day 2). I have comparing for in between if needed. It is 3:30 and I went to bed at eleven so very tired but also wired from steroids and Zofran.

. Kritti, you and your daughter are both beautiful. Thanks for those pics.

Walking in the clouds,I am so sorry for what you went through. Please get better soon and what a good decision to come home. I take that whenever I can.

Clear path you are proof that life wins out. I'm so glad you are a fighter. The body is an amazing thing. We can endure life's traumas and come out victorious.

I will be 71 when I finish my chemo and I still have at least twenty years of living planned. I'll fight for all of it. Planning a European trip in March. It gives me a great goal.

You ladies have helped me so much. I am grateful to all of you.

Makeuplover - Glad you are going to the doc on Monday -- I see that we have similar type of receptors. I asked that same question - how do you know if the chemo is working? That is why they do it first in this regime -- so how does one know?

I didn't get a great answer from the nurse, however, I will ask my Onc when I visit with her on Sept 12th (Day before my second chemo session). I have read they can do ultrasounds, which is what the did for the baseline of my original dx.

I believe they check the response and then decide on different cocktail, however, give it some time, try not to think about it and see what the doctor says. I know so much easier said than done. Just focus on giving your immune system a break to heal things. Stress aggrivates it - per my oncology specialized therapist - she says find away to give it a rest, you need the healing.

There is a free app called Headspace I have been trying -- if that helps at all.

Thanks, y'all. Just thought I'd try to share some happiness!

Paulette - last night we had Mediterranean - chicken & steak kabobs with roasted veggies and rice and hummus. It was quite literally perfect - bland, yet flavorful and easy on my stomach. I've also been eating oatmeal (but that's fiber) and mashed potatoes. White spinach pizza has also been tasting good to me - not the kind with tomato sauce, because the tomatoes have a rusty taste to me.

Sunny - so what's your PS doing about the fluid? Having to wait on chemo? I've noticed my incision scars are brighter than before, but I thought that was due to the flushing from steroids?

That's so scary about the fevers and having to go to the hospital. I'm terrified my kids are going to bring home stuff from school. And I haven't gone to the gym because I don't want the baby getting something from the nursery. Unfortunately, I have to watch out for depression sneaking in because I can feel me isolating myself.

I'm basically hiding from my neighbors- so tired of talking about cancer. I really believe I'm cancer free and the chemo is a necessary insurance policy. The shame is, this is what makes us feel and look sick! I'm having day 3 blues and nausea after my 2nd AC, so I'm a little cranky

VL - I know how you feel u feel, I hate to be in our shoes but what can we do 😕😕 I'm taking one day at a time and try to think positive on the good days

MakeupLover, Now I am not a doctor, hopefully they will be able to tell you exactly what is going on, but if you are doing neoadjuvant chemo it means they performed core needle biopsy and the tumor can swell because of that. I did not have neoadjuvant chemo, I had a lumpectomy prior chemo and they only performed fine needle biopsy but the lump that was a bit flat when I found it got swelled and felt more round but the doctor explained to me that the tissue was hurt and probably swelled. It was not bigger when they removed it after three weeks.

Hi all,

I am what is called triple positive and there is a great thread that has been started back in 2011, it has over 1000 pages. When I just found about me being triple positive I both joined it and started to read it from the beginning because I wanted to know like ALL. Now I understand it will take some time but I got hooked and I am just reading through it. There are people on this thread who are still posting frequently since 2011.

Now to what I wanted to tell you all about. Back in 2011 one of the users on this thread posted the following:

There are some really good people in the world. I want to let everyone know. There is a website that offers a free scarf for people who have hair loss from illness. A few weeks ago I ordered a scarf and today it came in the mail, beautifully wrapped, along with a get well card personally signed by about 20 people. I was touched. The scarf is beautiful....gorgeous infact. I will be proud to wear it. Here is the link for anyone who is interested. What an amazing company and compassionate people.

http://www.franceluxe.com/i/goodwishesscarves/Good...

I decided to try this link and it worked, I have now sent a request for a scarf with the good wishes, I will only have to pay for the shipping costs because I am outside the US, for any of you who wants it, it will be delivered free of charge.

Cherry

Leatherette, so you did like it, I am excited to get one of those. I also was surprised that it was still going on even though I red about it in a post from 2011. I keep saying that but this reference that comes up in my mind, it is a bit of The Lake House, you read some posts from six years ago and some things are still relevant, you knowwhat I mean. Cherry

i had dcis i believe at this point it has returned.I saw your post about your BMX.I too will be getting a BMX if cancer has returned.I need some support on your journey and your thoughts

Herewego- do not get yourself too work up, get your ultrasound and MRI then biopsy to confirm before you get yourself worry too much. I know it is hard to wait for all these test results and it can take months also.

Susan - happy to know you have no SE what is your treatment? I wish I can say that

thanks all for the reassuring words about my lump. I did have a biopsy and it did feel swollen right after but then it went down. That was in July. It just feels bigger again now after first chemo. I'll try not to think about it and see what the doctor says.

I have developed another side effect. Sore gums. Well actually just the one in back of my mouth after the molar. I never had my wisdom teeth removed. So this could be it. I've been taking Tylenol for pain and hope it doesn't get worse.

Cherry thanks for posting the link for the scarf.

Everyone try to stay positive and not get lonely and depressed. It's hard. Especially when you're not working. I would probably feel the same way. Just try to immerse yourself in things you like. Distract the mind. Pick up a new hobby, anything. Remember, you are loved.

Have a good day all

Leatherette-

I have the sore gums too. It worries me and I hope the chemo isn't ruining my oral health. :-(

I think the loneliness is getting to me too. I'm not working and live in a new city, so no real support system. I am texting friends from other places and I have you guys but it's easy to break down and have a pity party from time to time. Plus, I get tx#2 and a head shave this week. I am trying to stay positive!

Hello all. I started 4x TC on August 24th and am hoping today is a good one. The first two days were pretty decent- even made it to back to school night and took our kiddo to piano class. But over the weekend, I definitely started getting some pretty uncomfortable muscle and joint pains. I went for a small walk Saturday and halfway through felt a ton of pain in the upper back muscles along my spine. Stretching is still a little challenging as I had a bilateral mastectomy end of July and I felt like I could barely hold my upper body up long enough to get home. My chest expanders and resulting pain from that pressure is no joy ride either. I also had a pretty bad headache yesterday and got up to about 99.3 or so, but was able to get that down again. All told, I was able to putter around the house, watch a couple movies and have had a decreased appetite, but have been eating. I did an epsom bath yesterday while my 8 year old read me Shel Silverstein poems which was really great. I have been injecting myself with zarxio which I suspect is the cause of the deep joint discomfort (I have been taking claritin and ibuprofen) and am hoping I can gently stretch myself into some better comfort today. My stomach also did not feel great yesterday, but I feel like I can deal with that in order to eat the things I am craving rather than force down some bland foods. I guess I am lucky to still be interested in a fairly wide array of healthy foods- usually once they have been presented to me.

I am glad to be able to read and share in your experiences as well. It is both a comfort and a sorrow to know there are so many of us out there!

Leatherette--I'm in a new town too. Thank goodness for texting and Facebook and the like--I'd be lost without them.

I think cancer is just a lonely experience no matter who is with you. I was near family and friends the first time around and still felt alone much of the time.

This weekend was horrible but I woke up today feeling like I made it throught to the other side. I'm even hungry! Do you get more side effects as time goes on? For example, I've had no mouth sores so far, so can I assume i won't get any down the line?

I got a pixie haircut on Saturday and that was traumatic--my hair had been boob length. I know this will only be a problem for about another week but. . . now I remember why I keep my hair long. Cowlicks everywhere!