Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hi Joyous, sorry you are having to go through this. But as you can see, we are all managing pretty well. There are ups and downs but chemo, if you need it, is manageable.

You will know more once your path report from your surgery comes back. They can tell you how big the tumor was, how aggressive, if your lymph nodes were involved, and if you are hormone receptive. This will give the chemo team a lot more to work with. You may or may not need chemo, maybe just radiation, so don't worry about it yet. But if you do, know that it's probably not nearly as bad as you've imagined.
Good luck and let us know what you find out.
Amera

Dear Joyous,

Hang in there! It is a frightening road, but if you focus on the horizon, the things in front of your face can seem less daunting. You can do it, and remember that you are NEVER alone. Keep us posted

Thanks, Rebecca. If my tiara gave anyone a good laugh or even a chuckle then it was worth it. We need something to balance the heavy stuff we are all dealing with. Should I start a new thread where everyone can post their tiara pix? Even those plastic ones from the dollar store toy wall will do.- Skye

Good morning everyone. Although we hate the fact that you've signed on to this journey, Joyous, we are glad to have you. As you said, you are just beginning and things will not seem quite so overwhelming when you have all the test results in and have a plan of attack. At that point you will feel as if you have a little control over what happens to you and the ladies on this thread and any other thread on this site will help you get through whatever it is that you have to face to beat this disease. Hugs to you and good luck. Let us know what you find out.

Melia..glad you got through the second AC on Wednesday and hope you're feeling well today. I, too, find myself worrying about the future when I am idle. It sure doesn't help us any to worry but I think it's very common and probably one of the reasons so many of us are having bouts with insomnia, too. Hang in there. Once we get through these treatments, the future will be bright.

Amera...ROUND TWO IS OVER!!!! Hope you're feeling well today, too.

Rebecca... I have the "can't get back to sleep nights" pretty often lately. I'm so tired early in the evening that I fall asleep and then wake up about midnight and can't go back to sleep. It's like I'm trying to solve all the problems of the world in my mind from midnight to three a.m. :-)

Shorti.....I have a long, haired black cat that has a way of brightening my days. He's 13 years old now and just had a tumor of his own removed about 7 months ago. Luckily it was benign so he's here to help me get through the rough times. He curls up in my lap and purrs the night away and always meet me at the door, just like a dog does. What would we do without our "fur-babies?"

Skye......what can I say???? I LOVE THE TIARA! How elegant!

Gilda......congrats on reaching the half-way mark and making the turn. You're on the downhill slide now! I'm envious! :-)

Rebecca....don't know if you like them or not but my nutritionist suggested raisins as a good source of protein, so I've been eating raisin bread (toasted, raisin bran, and just keeping those little individual boxes around so I can munch on them when I get a little hungry.
Raisin cookies would be good, too!

Hang in there Mizsissy.........you can do it! WE ALL CAN!
How's Tae doing????

Gotta get something done around here. I drove to northern Illinois yesterday to visit my Mom who's in a nursing home up there and was simply exhausted when I get back last night so I slept in this morning.

Everybody have a good weekend!
Rita

Hey Amera

I usually wear a headwrap or a hat when I ride my bike. I am always cold (most likely due to my rather unfavorable surface area to volume ratio :-)) so I wear a fleecy hat. Here are a couple of alternative that you might like, though:

http://www.headcovers.com/moreinfo.php?id=10107
http://www.headcovers.com/moreinfo.php?id=10555

I have been very afraid to push myself too hard on the bike. In addition to my morning ride (usually about 2 miles) I also go out of my way to walk to get my kids from school, and do a lot of other walking and running around. It is probably not technically enough, but it is something! I am very impressed with your stamina. BC will have to run really really fast to get you!

Hi All,
Jan, Thanks for resizing my picture.
Rebecca, Thanks for offering. I guess I am not as computer savvy as I would like to be.
Amera, you sound good after your chemo.
Joyous, Welcome, and whatever happens, it is all doable. We are bigger than it is, and we can and will beat this.
I think they are treating me with antibiotics prophylactically to prevent any further infections. Maybe it was too late to give me a shot at day 15. I think she thinks the wbc will start going up, and if it doesn't bounce back enough by chemo day, she will just postpone it until it does. Meanwhile, the antibiotics should prevent me from getting another infection. I will be getting the Neulaster shots after my next treatments.
I just called the nurse and left a message because the onc didn't mention if I should stay home for a few days until they bounce back. I am supposed to work tomorrow morning. I work for Weight Watchers and tomorrow I work a two meetings- back to back (around 200 members will be coming through the doors between 7AM and 10AM and I will be weighing and talking to at least 60 of them. I keep Purell on my desk. I cannot find a substitute and there will be very very long lines if I do not show up. My co-workers will understand, but I want to make sure I make the right decision. Hopefully the nurse will call back soon.
Catch you all later.
Viddie (Paula)

I only checked into this thread when I began my chemo, Jan 24th.
I'm now a few days away from my second chemo, and my hair is starting to fall out today (16 days post chemo).
I thought I had made it through the worst, in the first week and half, with the tiredness, nasty taste in my mouth and nothing tastes good. But, just when I was starting to feel better, I got a sore throat, earache, and canker sore in my mouth. I got some anti-biotics from my GP, and just feeling a little better, and now the hair is going.
Just in time for my next AC treatment, next Wed.

Brenda...hi neighbor! I've missed you on the Illinois site under Help Me Make it Through Treatments and have been wondering about you because your chemo schedule is just two days before mine. I will have my second treatment one week from today....the 16th. What type of chemo are you taking? I'm doing the CMF IV infusions once every three weeks. I'm just wondering because it is day 14 for me today and I still have no visible signs of hair thinning. All I've had are the four bad days of headaches and nausea immediately following my first treatment. Keep in touch and come back and visit our Illinois thread. We miss you there!

Rita

I have seen several mentions of drinking Ensure to keep up your nutrition level. I love the taste, but it really upsets my digestive system. I am making trips to the bathroom for hours .Anyone else have this problem and is there anything else to try that would help for something HEALTHY to drink . My appetite is not the best.

He is beautiful, just when you have your wind blown out of you he should be your light at the end of it. Hang in there, we can do it!

Hi ritajean, and thanks for missing me.
I haven't felt much like posting lately.

My first chemo was kind of a fiasco, in a way. It went ok, but I found out that I wasn't supposed to be getting the A/C, and the Herceptin concurrently, like I did.
I did talk to my Onc's nurse and they are just going to give me the Adriamycin and Cytoxan now, for 3 more treatments, and then the Herceptin.
It gave me some doubts about my treatment, and especially since I talked to Case Manager (Insurance Co) and told her I never had any type of heart function tests before starting chemo.
She told me to ask for a MUGA and insist if I need to, to establish a baseline.
So, all that, coupled with the chemo after effects, have made me a little depressed, I think.
We'll see if things improve treatment-wise, next Wed.

Oh my gosh Brenda, I can see why you'd be depressed. You were getting a double whammy!!!!

I hope they finally have it all straightened out now. If so, I think you'll probably do O.K. on Wednesday. Where are you having your treatments done at?

I'll be thinking about you this next week. Please check in after your treatment (if not before) and tell us how you are doing. Hang in there. You've have a rough start but I think it will get better for you.

Rita

Robertin.........you are so right! You are fighting and you are winning! Sometimes we just get a little battered during the fight but the victory is alway sweet.

Rita

Nandy, I got the ok to drink Slimfast Optima as a snack or when I don't feel I can eat anything else, as long as it isn't used for regular meal replacements. It tastes pretty good and is very thick and creamy. Also makes a good car snack.

Viddie I went out in my wig for the first time yesterday and no one seemed to notice, but knitted or velour hats are more comfortable and I don't feel self-conscious wearing those around. Right now stores are dumping the last of their winter goods and I've been able to pick up a bunch for a couple of bucks each.
Thanks for all the kind comments on the tiara, everyone. I do believe we each should have one. Try googling tiara and you will be amazed how many online companies sell them in all price ranges.- Skye

Hello everyone! I have been a follower of this site for about 1 month now. I haven't participated much, but I am amazed at the concern and kindness that you have for each other. I had my first A/C tx on 1/29, and will have the second on 2/19. I will have 4 treatments. Still have my hair, but figure about 3-4 more days. Why does that seem to be the worst thing?? Everyone says that once it comes out it really is not that hard to deal with. I never became sick, but I did take my meds. The worst was the headaches amd the awful taste in my mouth. I have no appetite and have to make myself eat. I know the next few tx will be worse for side effects, but I really feel I can do this. Thanks so much to all of you for your support----nandy---hugs to all of you !!!