Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

My husband tried to clip the top of my head with his moustache clippers but it pulled and was entirely too painful. The sides were OK.

What I did was use a little lather and a regular wet razor and shave the top of my head where I could see what I was doing. They don't recommend using real razors when you're on chemo, but I was careful and it didn't hurt.

All you need are some curly bangs at chemosavvy.com and any scarf or cap will do. But a nice velvet turban with some heft is probably best because it adds some flattering fullness.

Some where back a few pages I had some instructions for making a turban...you need stretchy fabric. Also, you can make bangs from your own hair if you have any left!!!

Add earrings, makeup and you've got a glamourous look...ladies used to dress like this in the 1940s.

Hey...maybe we can start a new fashion trend...!!

Hi Ladies,

Well, it's time tomorrow for my 3rd. TCH treatment. So sorry that so many of you have caught the terrible "bug" that's going around. It's bad enough dealing with treatments without an added attraction. My most glaring side effect, besides fatigue, is bone pain from the Neulasta shot. It's decided to settle in the left shoulder and arm, (I'm left-handed), and am having some difficulty raising the arm. Combined with fibromyalgia, it's been a little difficult. I start to feel somewhat better about 2 days before I get the shot again. But all in all, I seem to be doing well and will reach the half-way mark of the chemo tomorrow. Will then continue with Herceptin for a year.
I had my head shaved on the 17th. day after my 1st. treatment because it was falling out. This past Sunday, I took the clippers and cleaned it up a little, it feels better now. I can't stand either of my wigs and I went "topless" for the 1st. time last Friday. Went to the post office, grocery store and pharmacy and somehow felt liberated. Of course, it was warm here in Calif. so I could get away with it.
I still can't figure out how to put my picture on my avatar.
I wish all of you good health and get better soon.
Hugs,
Sandra

Good morning everybody!

Mizsissy, so glad that this round is going better for you. After I got through Sunday (day 3 for me), I've been doing pretty well. I'm meeting a friend to walk the Mall today. We try for 3 miles so we'll see how I hold out. I need to get back on my exercise routine as I gained 2 pounds after the first chemo regiment and multiply that by 6...EEH GADS! Then I'm meeting with the administrators of the Children's Museum about teacher-education classes which I will be teaching there this spring. It feels good to get involved in some worthwhile activities again. Too much of this "stay in the house routine" is getting to me.

Hope everybody is doing well today. Feeling better, Viddie?

Amera, you young girls have so much energy, drive, and purpose in your lives that you think of the "survivor" terminology much different that I do. I don't so much think about surviving cancer (robertin's right....that's been cut out) but of surviving all the other things that we do in this journey. In all my 59 years, this has been the hardest thing that I have ever faced. It brought me to my knees, and the only way I could face the diagnosis and following treatment was to go one day at a time, one decision at a time, and one emotion at a time. So to me, I have survived the emotional trauma of the diagnosis, the roller-coaster emotions that plague so many of us in the late evening hours, the overwhelming decisions that had to be made about treatments, that first walk through the doors of the cancer center to take that first treatment, the first side affects of the chemo, and my own doubts about my ability to do what I needed to do. Each of these steps was a milestone for me, and I survived them. So far, I've made it through. Perhaps it is the term "survivor" and its connotation that is "holding us all up" on this issue. Perhaps it's the fact that we have a wide age variance on this thread and we're all at different levels in our life's journey. I know when I was your age, I'd get in the car by myself and drive for hours at night to get where I wanted to go. Now I hate to drive at night and am more selective about what I do in the evening hours. And maybe it's that this sense of "surviving" each little step of this journey gives me a sense of accomplishment and an incite into the inner strength that I've probably always had and just never tapped. I truly admire anyone who takes this journey, or any other long health-related journey. Perhaps "coping" is a better word to use than "surviving."

Hope today brings you all something good!!!

Rita

Rita,

Wow! You are so articulate and so elequently capture the spectrum of emotions that one feels from diagnosis through treatment. You are also very empathetic and able to understand where others may be in their journey. You should think about writing and publishing your journey.

50% Done Chemo and counting!

Barb

Here's something totally off the subject but a nice way to lighten your day, check out the Nora, the piano-playing cat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ860P4iTaM&eurl

My husband sent me this this via email this AM. I've watched it three times and I'm still amazed.

Mizsissy

I started Chemo Jan 07. I know what you mean about camping. I love fishing, can't wait till I feel well enough to do something other than lay in bed.

I also was diagnosed with lymphoma first. In Nov they found the invasive DCIS. Dec 06 had a lumpectomy. One week later went back in for a bilat mast. Right breast needed the mast. Left was preventative. The chemo has been really hard on me. 5 treatments left, then a month off before I start rad. I live near you, Brandon FL. Would you like to talk? I am on the chat most weekday mornings.

greetings ladies,

well, I think that the antibiotic they gave me is not working on my bronchitis. Today I am so short of breath that I was out of breath from going down a flight of steps and walking across a parking lot. My knees feel weak, and I am more tired than I can express. It hurts to cough...like a deep ache, not scratchy in the throat. I called the onc, and was told that my dr is out of the office today, can I call back tomorrow? When I hesitated the nurse said "well, you can talk to the other doctor here if you want..." as if this would be a stupid thing to do. DUH! I am not PROPERTY...I am a PATIENT! I do not care who I talk to...at least the other doctor in the practice has access to my medical records...better him than some stranger in the ER at 3AM as I am gasping for breath. I am waiting for a callback now. Medical care sucks. What has happened in this country?

Mizsissy,
Thanks for sharing the piano-playing cat! I am sending it to my little grandson who loves to have mom let him "use the computer." He will love it, as I did. Of course, I'm a "cat person" anyway.

Lynn...what a coincidence about you and your friend. You will be able to help her alot. Remember how overwhelming all those "unknowns" were? I wish I would have had a friend who could have provided suggestions and support. She's lucky to have you and I bet you will become very close before this is over.

HUGS Rebecca! Hang in there....sending good vibes and healing thoughts your way.

Rita

So I'm po'ed at my pharmacist. With my insurance company they will pay regularly for prescriptions filled at your local pharmacy as long as it is for no more than 2 months. If it's longer than that my insurance company wants me to use their mailorder pharmacy. So, when I got the prescription for Emend, I was told I only needed it for my AC chemo, which is 2 months (4x2weeks). So, I asked the doctor to write a prescription for a month supply, to be refilled once. So, the pharmacy only gave me 3 Emend pills and told me he was not "allowed" to give me more than that. I called my insurance company about my blood pressure medication and by accident they mentioned that I already had a two-month supply filled of the Emend. When I told them that was only a one-month supply, they told me my pharmacist made a mistake. So I called my pharmacist, and they said, "well normally people have chemo only once a month!" Duh, so they went against the prescription of the doctor, and without consulting the doctor, they cut my prescription in half. Now they have to go back and rectify the situation with my insurance company, because I need the Emend this Monday. So, there was deep sigh at the other end of phone. She said it was the doctor's fault, who should have mentioned that the chemo was every other week. I have never heard that a patient's history has to be written on a prescription. So, I've switched my daughter's prescriptions already, but I'm stuck with this one for my Emend. Yuck.
Hey Mizsissy, I love that cat. I'm sending it to my grandkids. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Well, I did finally get my callback, and this Dr wouldn't even talk to me! He basically told me that I just needed to come in (duh...that is why I CALLED IN THE FIRST PLACE) but that now it was too late for that. What is really frustrating is that I called at 11AM, he got back to me at 2:30. There is no reason that I could not have gotten in there today...and I would have if he had called me back promptly! In any case, I have an appointment for tomorrow at 1. I am very surprised and frustrated that they are being so casual. One of the main reasons I chose a private drs office instead of a cancer clinic was because I thought I would get more personalized care. I guess not! Too late now I guess. In the meantime I am out of breath from walking to the kitchen and back, and my heartrate is through the roof. whatever. I will survive the night, and if I don't at least my family will get enough in the settlement to live very comfortably

Amera and Rebecca, I am very concerned about your health. I can't believe what a sorry state the medical profession has fallen to...they just don't care. I think the only reason they go to medical school is to get rich. My father was a surgeon who a poor rural southern county and he took care of everyone, rich or poor, whether they could pay or not. This stinks!! I do hope you get the medical care you need ASAP...

I've gotten the run around too that way. You know who really helped!!! My primary care doctor. She jumped right on that urinary infection, had a sensitivity test done, got me on some good meds that I'm not allergic to, and was ready to put me in the hospital on IV meds if that's what it took. Got a followup req for a lab test in 11 days in the mail today after calling her. Why not call your PCP?

Robertin, you don't need all these bureaucratic hassals now, especially on chemo. It seems like everybody's attitude is just pass the buck, pass the buck?!!!!

I slept through the whole day. Tried to watch a movie but fell asleep surrounded by cats, who were happy to see that I've finally gotten sensible about the best way to pass the time at home.

Mizsissy

Rita,
I so agree with what you wrote about survivor coping. It made me cry!! You write so beautifully.
Mizsissy,
I am allergic to alot of antibiotics too. I went to the onc today because I have a sore throat and cough too. She said that she really didn't want to put me on antibiotics because they may interfere with the coumadin I take for my port. Also, she drew blood and said that my levels were fine. I have to tough it out or else my next treatment which is Wed. could be delayed and NO WAY is that going to happen. I want to get this over with.
Robertin,
Sorry you are having such a problem with Emend. My onc. just gave me a prescription for it today. She said that 3 pills would probably cost $300. and insurance may not cover it. Does it work?

You will do great. I'll pray for you. This rough time will pass soon and you'll be back to normal in no time!