Starting chemo August 2017 - would love some moral support!

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  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited October 2017

    Leatherete, if we ever make it at Seattle I may ask you in advance about all hot spots. Seattle must be beautiful.

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  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited October 2017

    I was doing really well yesterday after my 9th Taxol but today I am whiny and grumpy and tired although I slept for 10 hours, had trouble waking up in the morning, was falling back to sleep.

    I will get my 10th Taxol on Monday meanwhile the doctors are still discussing whether I should take an anthracycline. It is though stated in our national guidelines that adding an antracycline to taxane and Herceptin in adjuvant setting will reduce the risk with 34%

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited October 2017

    Cherry hugs, I know Taxol is hard for us both! Hope you will doing better each day. Will do my #6 Friday!

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  • Travel_Girl
    Travel_Girl Member Posts: 210
    edited October 2017

    K - glad you are a happy woman this week - the big question is -- which wig did you pick for the week? Or are you switching it up everyday?


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  • rdeesides
    rdeesides Member Posts: 459
    edited October 2017

    K - that is so awesome that you are at a writing retreat. It sounds really fun and it is good to do something that you love!

    Cherry - Keep us posted on the anthracycline. I hope you get some good rest.

    I will have #2 Taxol tomorrow. Not sure if they will add Carboplatin too. Nurse thinks some of my dizziness/fatigue is due to low blood pressure which she says can be aggravated if I'm not drinking enough water. So I'm trying to drown myself today and tomorrow. Drinking water gets old but I know it's super important.

    R

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited October 2017

    rdeeside- I got so tired of drinking water, sometime the water takes up all the space so I don’t have any appetite. Send you good vibes and prayers for tomorrow infusion.

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  • Willow22
    Willow22 Member Posts: 220
    edited October 2017

    Hi ladies - I'm having a wonderful time visiting my daughter in the LA area in between chemo and radiation.... there IS life after all the treatments and side effects, and you will be there soon too! Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers for easy treatments!

    Sammi - I'm so happy to hear the tumor is shrinking!!!!

    Rebekah - hope you feel better soon! I got to the point where water tasted really bad and found that a pitcher of "spa water" with slices of cucumber, orange, lemon and some herbs like mint & thyme tasted really good compared to just plain. I kept it in the fridge for 4 days, and just kept adding more filtered water. Decaf green tea or herbal tea (lemon & ginger) also tasted better than plain water.

    K - glad you are enjoying the writer's retreat! On an island.... I'm jealous! I hope the scenery change is as wonderful as the stimulating workshops and conversations :)

    Bone broth - I just saw it at my local costco in a carton with their other canned and carton soups (not refrigerated), but I haven't tried it, so can't comment on taste.

    Stay strong and keep marking those treatments off on the calendar,

    Willow

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  • KByTheLake
    KByTheLake Member Posts: 52
    edited October 2017

    Travel Girl, I am wearing a different wig every day. I have a knitted hat with cat ears that I like to wear when my wigs bother me, and sometimes I even go bald!

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  • emily_mh
    emily_mh Member Posts: 53
    edited October 2017

    Leatherette, I hope you're doing well after number 5. I am doing so much better than #4. I have no idea why - this is so silly and I know it can't be the reason I'm feeling better this time but I sucked on peppermint candies during chemo and now I've got it in my head that that helped me :)



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  • Leatherette
    Leatherette Member Posts: 448
    edited October 2017

    Wouldn't be the craziest thing to happen regarding chemo, Emily! I'm definitely getting my bad taste thing going-have to add NUUN to water to drink it, but can't complain about today-worked 8 and a half hours to be ready for next week. If it's hellish, I will only have to work a few hours all week to get by. Still feeling hopeful this one will be better......

    K, I don't like being bald out and about, but I am thinking of being uncle fester for halloween. I have the bald and the dark circles under my eyes, so all I need is a brown tunic and a lightbulb to put in my mouth!

    It's great that you are having fun with wigs, hats and nothing on your head! I have stopped wearing wigs (too itchy), but have a lot of nice scarves and my friend just knitted me a beautiful silk blue hat!

    Willow-so glad you are enjoying your post chemo adventures! Thanks for giving us hope and encouragement! Thanksgiving can't come soon enough for me! That will be about two weeks after my last infusion.



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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited October 2017

    K you have such a great personality I should try on the wig soon, weather is turning cold I should able to do that?

    Emily - how many more do you have to go? So glad that you’re doing better

    Willow - you finished your journey so fast! Yay!

    Leatherette- you will be fine, keep thinking that’s the last one, Home Free!

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  • KByTheLake
    KByTheLake Member Posts: 52
    edited October 2017

    Leatherette, you have to post an Uncle Fester photo! Paulette, thank you for the kind compliment!

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  • emily_mh
    emily_mh Member Posts: 53
    edited October 2017

    thanks Paulette! My last one is Nov. 1st then I will have a lumpectomy on Nov 28th. Then radiation and a year of herceptin. From what I've been reading, the radiation and herceptin should be easy compared to chemo!

    Leatherette, your Uncle Fester comment made me smile! Also, to you and everyone else who is working during chemo- I don't know how you do it, I'm just in awe of you. And really in awe of all of us going though this. We are strong! Ok, I'm being emotional :)

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  • emily_mh
    emily_mh Member Posts: 53
    edited October 2017

    oh and Paulette, how many more do you have

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  • SimplySammi11
    SimplySammi11 Member Posts: 70
    edited October 2017

    Willow - So glad you are enjoying your your time in LA with your daughter and doing well.

    Cherry: Praying things get better for you soon. So sorry the treatment really got to you this time.

    K: The wigs are fun. I swear Heather wears at least 3 different ones a day. Makes me think I should shave my head and go with wigs, just to change up my look anytime!😉

    I remember how scared and sad everyone here was about the hair loss and now that seems like peanuts to everything else you gals have to deal with. I’m so proud of how strong you all really are and admire you all more than I can express with words.

    As for Heather I swear her mass seems to be getting even smaller and although it’s still firm it’s not nearly as hard.

    Like I said before I’m glad Paulette put together a private group on FB. That format is easier for me and I can respond better as I do most everything on my phone now. I hope the ones that haven’t joined will join us there. It’s hard trying to keep up with both.

    I’m very thankful for this site though because I still look up things and read some great posts that help a lot. This has been such a wonderful group too.

    I had emailed the Gracie Foundation on Heather’s behalf and she received another bag full of goodies from them. It includes a book with her story and although she passed away in 2015 she never quit fighting. It’s a bittersweet story.

    If you’ve not checked it out and love pampering freebies for BC patients I recommend emailing them. You don’t have to read the book. I did it was a short read and very touching, however, I would do it when you’re up emotionally because it can make you sad. It did me, however I also know everyone is different and she was apart of a 2%.

    Anyway just wanted to post in here to reply to everyone that’s here because I know everyone hasn’t joined the FB group yet. It’s a safe place and feel a great place to post rants you want to keep more private and no one in there seems to be judgmental at all and truly there for each other.

    I may get the courage to open up and explain all we’re dealing with regarding Heather besides her BC diagnosis in there soon.

    Love to all, praying and sending you all healing!!

    Love & Light

    Sammi.


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  • SimplySammi11
    SimplySammi11 Member Posts: 70
    edited October 2017

    http://www.thegraciefoundationinc.org/

    The link to the Gracie Fo

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited October 2017

    Sammi - I always come here because that’s where I met you ladies and I like to help other also. We have to do what we need to do and this journey is a hard one, and we became stronger.

    Emily - I still have 6 more taxol to go if my body permits, if not I stop anytime. To me, quality of life is more important but I will continue fight this battle.

    Ladies, I found that after chemo my left arm the bad arm became a little more uncomfortable. I haven’t measured it might be swell up some. Do you feel that also?

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  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited October 2017

    I will have my 10th Taxol on Monday, my energy is back on Friday and I usually feel better physically, on Sunday, mentally I am a mess. I also posted on Weekly Taxol group that I get hot flashes in the middle of the night, I get so hot that I wouldn't even touch my duvet blanket and open the window falling asleep under the cool air, then later I will wake up completely cold and freezing grabbing for the blanket. Everybody said it was normal, this is chemo causing it. I did not have any period since August so I assume I am in menopause now.

    For those who is finishing soon, yay! Before I thought that I had so many infusions left that it will never end but now I feel like three more infusions are nothing compared to three EC three weeks apart. I still do not know how it is going to be, we are all in limbo but the nurse told me that yet another multi-disciplinary conference is booked for my case and next week we will have to decide. I do not want to do any EC but as I said an anthracycline+taxan+H gives better protection than taxane+H according to our national guidelines. On the other hand another oncologist told me: we do not know, maybe you do not need any chemo at all but who will risk it? Sometimes I am just so tired that I think it must be enough with Taxaol and then change my mind, no we will throw everything. It makes me crazy. My rant for today, I am doing it a lot, not very positive at all.

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  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited October 2017

    PauletteK, it may be a mild lymphodema, they took some lymph nodes there. I had three nodes removed and underneath my arm it feels like numb and a bit painful when I touch it. My oncologist told me it was because of surgery.

    Willow, hope you are having a great vacation with your daughter.

    Sammi, great to hear about Heather.

    I did not lose any taste, I eat a lot and only gained weight. Baked Oatmeal Banana Chocolate-Chip Peanut-Butter Breakfast cookie, I am not jokig, this was the name of the recipe, and they are all gone, I ate the last two today. Well, the whole family enjoyed those too. I put some raisins, dried cranberries and chopped walnuts into the dough to make those more healthy. I am so into eating and cooking I joined So what's for dinner? thread.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited October 2017

    Cherry, congrats on #10 taxol, you did really well. So you almost see the end of the rainbow. I’m little confused how many infusions do you still have left? Wish I can see I gain weight from chemo. My taste buds changed so I can’t eat much after steroid disappeared, I can look at my food but can’t eat. 😭😭😭

    I’m trying to focus on the good days and don’t over thinking Cherry. I always think God gave me a second chance if I didn’t find BC on my lymph nodes I might not even know I have cancer. So after I finished my treatments I will back to church and do my serving. Recurrence..... if it happens nobody can stop that except God. All I ask God is please don’t be painful. I put my life on Gods hands. I trust him to lead my way. This will give me peace and strength.

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  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited October 2017

    PauletteK, I do not know myself how many infusions I have left. If I am staying with Taxol then three more but I if I will be switching to EC than it will be my last Taxol, the doctors will have another conference about my case this week then I will meet my oncologist again. I have a small child, I have to know I have done everything to be able to stick around for some time.

    Cherry

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited October 2017

    Cherry how old is your child??

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  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited October 2017

    Paulette, she is 11.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited October 2017

    Cherry, now I totally understand, hugs and prayers for you. May God be with you and give you strength and wisdom to pick the best treatments.

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  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited October 2017

    Thank you PauletteK

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  • KByTheLake
    KByTheLake Member Posts: 52
    edited October 2017

    Last chemo treatment is done!!!!

    image

    I keep crying because I’m so happy to be finished. I keep thinking, too, about the day I found out that I needed chemo. I wondered if my life was worth fighting for and decided it wasn’t. I spent several days in that dark place but eventually hope overcame the despair and now I cry sweet tears of gratitude instead of bitter tears of hopelessness. I’m so glad that I chose to fight

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  • Kritti
    Kritti Member Posts: 23
    edited November 2017

    yay, K! So happy you're finished!

    It's been a while and I had a lot of reading to catch up on, but I'm glad everyone seems to be doing ok! I finished my last TC 3 weeks ago tomorrow but got sick (sinus infection and bronchitis ) that I'm just getting over. As soon as it hit me - because that's what happened, it hit me like a mac truck - my Dr put me on a strong antibiotic to help kick it. I didn't end up hospitalized, so I'll call it a success. I'm just still tired.

    Doesn't help my husband and I are having marital problems. Today marks 6 months since I got my diagnosis and we've has sex once in that time. I'm feeling myself sinking into depression. Yay. Fun times.

    I hope y'all continue to heal. Best of wishes to everyone.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited October 2017

    K - so happy you’re done now you can move to the next phase in life. Share with us your writing and enjoy your semi retirement. You know God has plans for you.

    Kritti - now you feel better and finished with chemo also. Time to move on to next phase as K and other do. Maybe you and your husband can see a marriage counselor to work things out. He needs to give you time to heal and ready. Hope he will be more understanding.

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  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited October 2017

    KByThe Lake, yay! Congatulations on being done! Of course it was worth all possible fight, I recognize to all the dark thoughts though. Hope this last round will be easy on you and you can start coming back to normal, clouds move, it can only be better from here, imbibe the strength of the mighty lake Superior:)

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  • Cherry-sw
    Cherry-sw Member Posts: 997
    edited October 2017

    Kritti, it has been a while for sure but three weeks post chemo, time goes so slowly when you are at home on the sick leave but suddenly several weeks just have flown by this way. sorry to hear about your infection but these are common when the immune system gets a strike from chemo. I had a tiny sore on my cuticle approx 10 days ago that turned out into a nasty infected ulcer that I kept soaked wet with pharmacy alcohol solution but it wouldn't heal and I my GP fixed the local antibiotics bandage, it got better but still looks problematic. If it wouldn't for chemo I would have never gone so long. And I was being so proactive that I stopped with manicures but the cuticles got so fragile anyway because the skin dries up.

    Sorry to hear about your marital problems but honestly speaking same here, my psychiatrist would like to meet my husband for the next appointment to hear his side of the story. With all do respect I understand it is hard for everybody in the family but their emotional stress cannot be compared to ours. I am on mild anti-depressive now, I was not handling it very well.

    Asked you a question first but then edited my post, anyhow, I am sure you will work it out, this stuff is tiresome but love conquers all


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