Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Rita, I am so sorry. You are always so sweet and dear on the boards; you need to let all of us nurture you now. Losing your mom is so hard. I am thinking of you ...
Melia

Oh Rita, I am so sorry for your loss. Know that we are all here for you. You will always feel good about spending the day with your mom yesterday. I lost my dad almost 10 years ago and still hold that time I spent with him in my heart.

Big hugs {{{{{{{{{{{{{Rita}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Lynn

Rita, my heart goes out to you and to your family. I am so sorry about your loss.

That vitamin D study...I read that too, and it said 1000-2000 mg a day is considered safe for people, and the survival rate difference was noticeable. I bet it is in the science section of breastcancer.org. The key with any supplements is to make sure your team knows about every one of them and someone is monitoring for interactions. My onc had no problem with anything but the red clover, and he is in a large oncology alliance that consult daily over everything. But if I had to cut back on everything but one (besides a multivitamin and calcium citrate, I didn't even mention those) I would keep the vitamin D since that has been proven.
Still laughing at the uniballer. And while I definitely feel less attractive these days, my husband keeps telling me it doesn't matter, and remember... we won't always be bald. In fact, I had this dream last night that my hair grew back overnight, and in just the right length and style, LOL. There is wish fulfillment for you. I do have to say my hub is extra-understanding because almost a year ago he underwent robotic arm surgery for prostate cancer, and I was his caretaker then, and we are still working on his therapy. How bout that, the two of us in one year, and both of us 55! We just never know what life has in store for us. But here is something interesting. Some years ago as a newspaper reporter, I had the chance to interview seven people over age 100 at one nursing home. To a person, they each insisted their longevity was due not to heredity or healthy habits, but to their ability to roll with the punches when bad things happened. I always try to remember that. So let us roll, sisters, roll!

Amera,

I'm sure you looked fabulous for your 15 minutes of fame!

Lynn

Hi Nandy,

Aren't you on taxotere? I don't have your chemical listed. I think you should drink LOTS of water to flush the chemicals out of your system (like 2 quarts per day). Another way to get them out is to go for walks to get your blood flowing and fresh oxygen into your lungs; research has shown that women on chemo who walk at least 3-4 hrs per week have substantially less fatique than women who don't. Just lying around itself can give you vertigo. Warm bubble baths can be very comforting too. I think the main thing is don't even try to pretend you feel normal, just give into it, rest & walk, don't push your brain. You will feel normal again.

I can't stand pity-lookers. In fact, I used to be one. If I saw someone in the grocery store wearing a scarf with no facial hair, I'd just think, oh that poor person is probably dying of cancer, better tiptoe away softly. Now I know better.

So my way of dealing with this now is to go around in disguise, so no one can tell. Actually--what does it matter, I seem to just go back and forth between the house and the hospital...so who cares?!!!

For the third Sunday in a row we were planning on church and something prevented us. This time it was very bad winter mix. Maybe next Sunday. Also was thrilled about dry pavement yesterday and was planning to run today, but now everything is covered with crusty snow. Uck!!

Decided to try wearing some hair today...the wig feels good and it's nice to look at. I found a second very lightweight one with enough hair in the back to make a little French twist, now I am beginning to resemble my old self. Hey girls, try on your wigs, they may have gotten more comfortable. You don't need to look like bald scarf ladies!!!

Boring gloomy, overcast day, but the days are getting longer and spring will be here in a matter of weeks...a great time to be done with chemo!!!!!

Mizsissy

Why not try a strong pain reliever like Darvocet? Do you have any leftover pain meds from your surgery? If not, maybe your oncology nurse can call something in for you.

I have had headaches too, but a strong painkiller--just once--often knocks it out for good. Tylenol sometimes just isn't enough.

I wouldn't even try to use your eyes as long as they feel that way..wait until you've kicked this...I hope your next infusion isn't like this too!!!!

Nandy, I thought about what you said about having a problem with your eyes focusing and I thought it would be a good idea to call your oncology nurse. Don't mean to scare you, but this may be a serious side of the chemo (never heard of it), but it is better to be safe than sorry. I hope the chemo is not affecting your eyes in some way...in any case, if this continues they may want to change your regimen. There are alternatives to AC...for instance I'm taking TC (taxotere+cytoxan), which is just as effective but might not affect you so adversely.

Joni, "turtle faces" is very good. Now I will think of that each time whether I try to or not, and yes, I'll be smiling. Thanks! - Skye

Viddie, sorry you are not feeling well. About the 100.8, I don't know. I probably would do the same thing if it stayed that low. Not that that's what you should do, but I've had it with being told it's nothing. I would just keep taking your temp. However, I was told not to take anything for a fever because it can disguise the infection or something or other. I guess it would prevent it from going up and then you wouldn't know if it were serious.

I'm not sure when the Nightline thing will be on. I'll let you know but I doubt I'll make it on. They had all kinds of rules seeing that it was in a church. No kids in the picture, only the first few rows etc. I was standing with my kids but the camera was right on my face for a while, so who knows.


And I loooove "turtle face. " That's perfect. And I'm sure Mizsissy, that I was a turtle face at one point as well. I just think it makes everyone so uncomfortable they don't know what else to do.

I swear if it weren't for the hair loss, we could deal with this any way we wanted. This way we become CANCER girls like it or not. Just when we are getting comfortable with the diagnosis, we have to deal all over again with the looks. They always make me feel awful--like, hey, maybe this is a bigger deal than I think it is. Maybe I am going to die. Maybe I should start taking this a lot more seriously. And this from strangers too. Yeesh! So turtle faces it is. Bring it on :9
Amera

Amera...I am sure you looked great! Don't fret it.

Viddie...I think that you would probably be fine to wait until morning if you feel ok. If you take a turn for the worse during the night definately go! In my opinion, the stress of the ER would probably negate any protection you might get from being cautious. I think you should call your onc first thing, though.

As for me, it was a rather average, rather exhausting weekend. We ran all over delivering kids to parties and friends houses and so on. Despite that, or maybe because of it, I feel much better today...I think that I have kicked the infection, and now just need to clear out the residual congestion. YAY! I would think that everything is go for me to go in for my "toxic kool aid" on Wed (BTW, someone on the list coined that one...I do not remember who, but I LOVE IT).

My buzzard aunt called me today (speak of the devil, I guess) and I was treated to an hour long lecture on the virtues of drinking tea with honey (no, no dear...green tea just will not do....it has to be an oolong, or maybe an earl grey). blech. "we are so proud of how you are handling this" she tells me. What a meaningless platitude! I mean how ELSE do you handle this? I think that I prefer turtle faces to buzzards. At least I can ignore the turtle faces. After all, if I do not think I need to be pitied, what do I care if someone else..who I do not even know....is pitiying me behind my back. I think that I feel pretty good, and I look ok (for the first time in my life I have to wear cosmetics...or I look like a ghost)...so I just hold my head high and go on through my day. As someone who regularly appears in public I can tell you all that the self concious feeling (regarding the scarves/wigs etc) does go away after a while. I for one refuse to let turtle faces keep me trapped inside my house!

Rita: My Prayers are with you for the loss of your Mom. My Mom is 92 and in a Nursing Home. It can be tough. In reference to what you said about God never gives us more than we can handle, someone said that it is suffering that gives meaning to our lives and makes us realize what is important and then brings us closer to God. We girls are always here for you. Love, Lucy

Amera...I didn't realize you were going to be on NATIONAL TV with your lovely bald scarf head...what an opportunity!!! Did I miss this!!!??

BTW, I think your buzzard-faced aunt means well, in her bungling awkward way I believe in the powers of tea too. I understand how annoying those *are you feeling better* calls are...I tell them I was never *sick*!!!

I am feeling a little better this morning. The headache is gone but my eyes are still having a hard time focusing on the screen and keyboard. I go in today for bloodwork, so will discuss these side effects with the nurse.
Mizzsissy, I also had a wild dream over the weekend. I dreamt that during the night my hair grew out so much it came through my sleepcap and I could not get the cap off. That would be a nice problem to deal with ??
I appreciate all the concern everyone has for our side effects. What would we do without this site to go to for support ??---Nandy