Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Nandy, I think I'm posting too much today...but what I recommend is just sleep, watch TV, and take bubble baths, don't fight it. Don't do anything productive. I slept most of the day and night yesterday and feel a lot better today, though I'm still pretty tired. Drink lots of water. Your body will heal quicker with rest.

We're jealous, Aladora. You get rid of those other forums and just post here. Do we really have to share?!!

Everything going well, my last chemo should be May 2 (yipee!)

In other news, I am just back from the dr, and he listened, looked, and poked. THen he announced that Yup...that is a pretty nasty stubborn case of bronchitis. (duh) He did not want to change my antibiotic, mostly because there was nothing more appropriate, I guess...but he did up my dose. So he gave me a prescription for 5 250mg pills of Levaquin to take along with the 500mg pills I already had. I figured GREAT! only 5 pills, I should get a break on the price! NOPE insurance company charged me the same insane copayment for 5 pills as they did for 10. blech. being sick is expensive. I DID, however, treat myself to a new lipstick while I was waiting! I am with you guys all the way WE DESERVE IT! I do feel a bit better today than I did yesterday, so I think I will try to get to bed early again, and see if I can shake this bugger infection before session #3 next week.

Hi everyone,
Robertin & Rebecca,
I was also on Levaquin. Watch for yeast infections- both mouth (thrush) and vaginal. Unfortunately, I have them both. The doc said it was a s/e from Levequin. Easy fixable- today she gave me a rx for Diflucan- (fluconazole)- It is only for 1 pill for one day & because it was generic, it only cost me $4.00. I hope it works!!
Rebecca, I am glad your doctor listened to your lungs. I hope you feel better soon.
Amera, How are you feeling?
Robbinjaye, when are you going to have your test? I hope it is much ado about nothing.

Mizsissy, my last A/C is

Mizsissy,
My last TAC is May 9th.
I got a prescription for Augmentin Antibiotic from the onc since I coughed all night. I will take it easy this weekend.
I hope everyone feels well.
ilene

Viddie, you're kidding about 2008 aren't you...?!!

Mizsissy,
I am her2 pos, which means I need doses of herceptin every 3 weeks for a year after my a/c, taxol, and radiation. It does sound like a lot of time, but herceptin seems to smother the beast. I am doing everything I can to have a very happy ending. Time will fly and the s/e of herceptin are nothing like A/C or taxol. I will get my hair back on herceptin and get on with things. I will only have to wait if I want to go away for a month. We had to cancel our plans for our March Florida condo rental vacation this year, but plan to do something equally exciting next year. Maybe a Europe River barge vacation. Right now I do not care about the cost- maybe our kids will offer to pay---just dreaming.....Anyone else have to take herceptin?
Viddie

Quote:

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We're jealous, Aladora. You get rid of those other forums and just post here. Do we really have to share?!!

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Lol, I could get rid of one of them but not the others. The private 55 member website is a group of women that I have been talking to since I found out that I was pregnant with my son back in Nov, 2004! Plus, they are the Ugly Hat Ladies, I can't abandon them, they would hunt me down!

But I will try and post here more often.

So...any ideas about the whole wig/scarf falling off while playing at the gymnastics club issue?

Hi everyone!
It sounds like everybody was busy today!!!
I really don't know when my last chemo will be. My fourth chemo (CMF) is March 30. Then I have to wait 3 weeks to start 33 rads. Then I have to wait 3 more weeks and return to 2 more chemo sessions which have not yet been scheduled. YUCK!!!

I'm a little down today. I spent the day in the nursing home with my Mom. It's almost a 3 hour drive there so it's been a full depressing day, but I need to go when I am feeling well.

Hey Rebecca...I'll catch you early in the mornings, too.
Hope your bronchitis disappears quickly.

The rest of you hang in there. I'll try to be "perkier" tomorrow!

Rita

Dear Shorti,
Congrats on your last FEC on Monday. Sorry you are having such a hard time. Hopefully the Taxotere will be easier on you. It is sure nice to have hubby and kids to clean house. Hopefully you can have some R & R this weekend.

Amera,
When I started menopause around 5 years ago, I took 3 pregnancy tests. Then my mean doctor who I just finally got rid of, told me with a mean straight face that I was in menopause and there was no need to keep checking. I thought that was so mean. He could have said something in a nicer way. He is the same doctor that when I told him i had breast cancer, he actually said to me that that was not that bad. I asked him if he knew something I didn't know, like they made a mistake. Anyway, I have a new doctor now.
I think you can have a heart to heart talk with your oncologist next time you see her, and she will probably give you some advice and statistics.
Viddie

for me the ativan helps with sleeping.sleep like a baby , they say its addictive but I do not think so . Its made for us to deal with the &*^% we go through .
I wear cotton bandannas and they stay on my head , keep me warm too and the "breeze " that floats along the back of your neck . I still have stubble on my head and am just leaving it, being winter I do not go out too much , we are bracing for another snow storm this weekend .
Dar1 hope you get some sleep ask about ativan .... hope Western Canada is warmer than here in Toronto !!!!

Whoops Shorti I left you out, I was thinking of you but couldn't find any of your posts in my 5th day chemo fog this afternoon...All I could remember was Ontario and your virtual cabin, but I will get you right up there.

Hi there Dar...another early finisher!!! Yeah! Viddie, I guess you weren't kidding, but I gather from what you're saying it's not as rough as the typical chemo...

Oh Mizsissy, your post couldn't have come at a better time. I am feeling really torn about this whole experience. On the one hand, I completely agree with you. I do not at all identify with "victims." I don't feel like one most of the time.

On the other hand, I cannot help but believe I was in denial for a long time. Until...my hair fell out. Now it's out there for everyone to see. It seems so superficial, but as I've said, it's not really so much about vanity as it is about being "that woman with CANCER" everywhere I go. I cannot seem to get over it. And I hate it, hate it, hate it!

I ran into a former student at the mall who'd heard about my situation. She was working at the shoe store and loudly asked about chemo, how I felt, did it hurt, etc? I can forgive her as she's only 19, but the entire crowd heard her. It made me feel really uncomfortable. Same with the "survivor" at the grocery store. I do not want to be identified by my disease but until my hair grows back, I cannot escape it.

AND, I think what you said about oncologists is right on. My surgeon was wonderful. I absolutely trusted her and her nurse and knew I could ask her anything at any time and get a solid answer in a compassionate way. I think maybe that's because it's the surgeons who see us at our most vulnerable and they are used to dealing with crying, emotions, women in shock.

Oncologists are used to seeing it all. They deal with cancer all day long. Most of us are early stagers and we are not the ones our oncologists are concerned about. We don't have the unusual or difficult to treat varieties. To them, this is not a big deal. But to us, it certainly is. When you hear cough and blood clot in the same sentence, it's a big deal. When you hear transfusion, bone damage, heart damage, early menopause, it's a big deal. Most of us will not ever experience these things, but this guessing game is no fun. Should I call? Will my dr think I'm a pain in the a-- if I bother her again over something "trivial?" Where are all those wonderful, caring, reassuring oncologists I keep reading about in the breast cancer books? Sigh...
Amera

Hi:Last treatment (TCH) May 1. THen just Herceptin until next December.
Hope everyone is well.
Prayers, Lucy

O.K. ladies.......we're going to try this again. I just spent 20 minutes writing a post and POOF! I must have pushed the wrong button and the entire thing disappeared. Not a good way to start the day! :-)

So..let's try again. Good morning Mizsissy and Rebecca, the early morning crew! I hope you're feeling better, Rebecca. Thanks, Mizsissy for compiling the chemo end dates. You have me down for AC and I am doing CMF. I posted my chemo dilemma during my last post for you. It's nice of you to do this for us.

Amera....Three of my friends got caught in the pregnancy trap during menopause so be careful. Use good protection because as far as I know, the early pregnancy over-the counter tests (and of course morning sickness if you're prone to it) are the only early indications.

Also, you are so right Amera about how oncologists treat early stage patients. I have to take my chemo on Fridays because I am taking the CMF, which often has fewer side affects, and thus I am not as apt to need him for the first three days after chemo. Thus he takes his "harder-core" patients for chemo during the week because he is less availabe on the weekends and I will probably get through them better without him. It does make sense and I am very fortunate to be the one who "probably won't need him as often" but it also points out the difference in how they treat us. Hey, that would be fine if they then offered reduced rates for those of us who don't need them as much! Don't imagine that they'll consider that, though. lol

I am attempting to keep myself busy and schedule my naps between my activities. Being a people person, I am finding that this improves my mood and gives me something to look forward to. Today I am hanging out with another single lady in the area. Don't know what we are doing yet, though as we were under another winter freezing rain advisory, so our plans were contingent on the weather. So far, we've escaped the demon and I hope that continues. Maybe a shopping trip and lunch or lunch and an afternoon movie. Hmmmmmmmmm..............

Iowa Cindy. I wish we were a little closer. I am located in east central Illinois. I imagine we are quite a "drive apart." If not, I'd drive over some day for lunch and a good gab session. I'm in Bloomington, Illinois. Where exactly are you located in Iowa?

So, everybody have a good day. Do at least one special thing for yourself today. Believe me, it builds the morale! Maybe we should post the special treats we give ourselves each day. It might spark an idea for somebody else!

Rita