Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Regarding exercise, my onc says to stay in Zone 2. Zone 1 is a leiurely walk and Zone 2 is you can feel like you'r working at it. Zone 3 (your tape probably) has you breathing out of your mouth and not your nose. The idea is to not overtax your body who is going through so much right now. When I cycle at the gym I find myself slipping into Zone 3 and I back off. (I also have a heart rate monitor watch that tells me). You burn more fat in zone 2 and zone 3 you burn more sugar than fat. I'm working out and still gaining with this Taxol but hopefully it is water weight. (Please!)

Wow, my onc said to exercise as much as you feel like it. Didn't mention anything about zones or heart rates. She said that if you are in shape before you start chemo, then try to keep it up as much as you can. I guess she's only concerned if you try to start some high impact new workout routine.

And for what it's worth, her area of research is in exercise and recurrence rates. So far there appears to be a positive correlation, so sweat away gals.

I have not been to the gym in weeks. I feel terrible about it as I was a gym rat before all this started. But between the fatigue and cold I had and all the rest, I haven't made it. I swear that's a reason round 1 was so relatively uneventful. I really need to get back with the program. It's a slippery slope when you stop going for a while. I just feel so much better when I go.

I was probably in the best shape of my life when I was diagnosed. I'd lost a few pounds and really ramped up the workouts. I really don't want to turn to flub. If I can maintain my weight I am fine, but I can really tell that things are going soft quickly without the daily exercise. I really need to get back to it.
Amera

Amera, thanks so much for explaining the "zones," that makes a lot of sense. I didn't do any exercising today, full of Benadryl as I am. Next time they are cutting the Bennie dosage in half! At least they completely obliterated any allergic reactions. :-) Skye

Shorti,
I guess I originally missed the part about your colon cancer. Was it found by a routine colonoscopy after the BC was found or did you have symptoms that prodded the investigation? I always worry about this because I have had diverticulosis for years.

Rita

Whew..so much to catch up on!

Exercise...when I brought this subject up I was referring to Post-Chemo!!! Gentle exercise during chemo, but around those infusion day, pampering. I really found out the hard way about overdoing it!!!

I82Jem, somewhere along the line I lost your data and I can't find it. Loved all your quotes, but almost every one was too long. I finally managed to edit a favorite and fit it in. Thank you!!! Love your picture.

Nosebleeds..Lynn12, I think this is a definite problem with taxotere. I'm still having them 6 or 7 times a day, and it is really tough getting rid of a sinus infection when your nose is in such bad shape.

Hey Nancy...how about some pix of your kitties? Tell us about them. I'll post some more of my kitties once I get my laptop back.

Shorti...I just love your new avatar...it is so beautifully composed and the colors are lovely. You look almost madonna-like.

Finally, the Post-Chemo thread is going *for post chemo gals only* ...it's a little lonely now while I'm waiting for everybody else to finish, so Dar, you come on over any time! http://community.breastcancer.org/ubbthr...&PHPSESSID=

Mizsissy

Amera,

I think there is a huge difference between being a Survivor and a Victim. I having never been one who was into *milking victimhood* ...I hated the pink ribbons, the "badges", I think I hated the pink M&Ms the most. I've always wanted to turn every negative thing in my life to a positive, and in some magical way that has worked for me.

BC has actually resulted in a rebirth for me. My life is better now; I'm stronger, I have improved my relationships with friends, family, my husband. I think I am going to appreciate and enjoy life more this summer than at any other time. I remember having mononucleosis in my summer after my freshman year in college...what a drag!!! However, by September when I was back at college I had my energy back, and I know this sounds corny but remember the grass was never so green, the sky was never so blue...and before long I'd fallen in love.

Mizsissy

I'd written a post and lost it - arggh! Don't touch anything until you hit submit!
I know one thing I've gotten out of this is an appreciation for my health and just plain feeling good. During chemo, I've felt reasonably good only the last 2-3 days before my next treatment - and that is tainted with knowing there is another one coming up! I've always been healthy, and have to say that I didn't really understand what it is like to feel sick. Hopefully that will translate into empathy.
I finished the pjs I was sewing for my grandaughter - they turned out well (my first project in over 10 years), but she refuses to wear them! Says they are "yucky jammies" and runs crying from the room. She is 2 and very passionate about these things!
Melianne, I have been crossing out the days on the calendar since Jan. 3. I hate the idea of just wishing days to be over, but it's a small triumph to cross each one out. We watched the movie "Click" a few weeks ago - it looked cheesy, but was actually about this very thing - wishing your life away. Pearls of wisdom from a comedy.
Hope everyone has as good a day as possible!

Hi Everyone,

Caya I am also on Herceptin and will continue for a year after I finish the Braxane (Taxol) treatments. In Europe they are using it for two years. Since you never get rid of the extra Her2 genes, the idea is to give your body a long time to down regulate the production of the protien. I think its a good idea.

Mizsissy, I've love 25 lbs since starting chemo. And I really needed to lose it. In fact I would like to lose another 20 but Im not pushing myself right now. I feel like being overweight is one of the few risk factors I can control for a reaccurance. It astonishes me how weak I am. I really need some motivation to start a strengthening program.

Vicky

Wow - I was out for just5 days this time and I can't get through all of the new posts! I had 3 days of IV fluids after chemo this time and I can see a big improvement in how I am feeling now. At this point last time there was no way to even focus on the computer screen, or eat. My nurses and onc have been so awesome. My onc told me on Friday that it is “easy” to pick the right drugs, but that they “earn their stripes” by managing all of the side effects. At every visit he wants to hear about how I am doing and always comes up with some way to tweak the treatment to manage the nausea better.

Nancy - I had the same question about being a "survivor" when I signed up for the BMW "drive for the cure." They donate $ for every test mile driven and have a special police-escorted drive for 18 survivors. All BMW's with huge pink ribbons on them. The woman I spoke to said "you are a survivor on the day you are diagnosed." So barring some bizarre side effect I'll be there next Monday in my scarf with way too many people watching.

IowaCindy – I am so glad the scan results were good.

Mizsissy – I vote for catering or telling people to bring something. You just finished chemo – no way you should have to lift a finger!

Mizsissy – My last chemo date is May 11 and my birthday is March 30 (same day as chemo #4, bleck)

On the exercise topic I have totally fallen short. The most I’ve managed is to get the dogs out for walks on week 3 of each cycle. Not to good. I have made a pledge to myself to get back into rock climbing after chemo is over. I’m still working on getting full range of motion back into my arm, but it is coming. I figure climbing will be good for that and it’s the best de-stresser I know of.

Dar1 – your “yucky jammies” gave me a good laugh. My daughter just turned 2 and got some really cute outfits and boots for her birthday. One item was a fuzzy pink vest that she announced to everyone that hated (all the relatives were there). Of course 3 days later she’s decided it is the best thing ever and won’t even take it off to go to sleep. She did the same thing with a pink pair of boots – wouldn’t wear them then wore them until they made her legs hurt. There no reasoning with those little ones.

Since my initial diagnosis I’ve been tossing around the idea of getting a tattoo at the end of my treatment and after reconstruction, etc. One of the images that keeps coming to mind is the butterfly. I’ve never had a tattoo and even though I’m almost 38 my mom will kill me – but I’m still thinking about it… Would someone repost the thing about the butterfly metaphor – I missed it and my eyes are going goey from too much reading.

One last thing – did my avatar change? I tried to switch from my dog (who by the way is sick and was at the emergency vet late last night) to one of me in my scarf. BUT when I look I still see the dog photo. So I am confused (nothing new there).

Jan,

We are seeing you in your Avatar instead of your dog! Although we hope your dog is ok.

Lynn

Lynn,
I know how you feel. I got so panicked Friday night, can't show fear to my husband or he freaks out and tells me I am being negative. So I took a leftover zanax, which put me to sleep at 8pm. That annoyed me b/c I figured I lost an entire evening. I wish I could cry. I think I could if I could talk to him about my fears, but when I tried, he got so upset that I had to comfort him. Kind of not the point. I have to be brave for the kids (adults, all in their 20's, but still, I don't want them to parent me). Other than that, I just have trouble falling apart to anyone else. I tend to minimize the seriousness of it all, reasurring the cousin or whomever it is that I am early stage. I have no where to go to fall apart.
Melia

Hello all:

Well from the posts it looks like several of us have had a few tough days. Was it a full moon this past weekend. Lynn, Melia, RitaJean, Dar1, Nancy, & Mizsissy, hugs to all of you. I never used to be a teary person, but for some reason now with BC, when I start crying it is like opening up a flood gate. I think I spent all day Saturday and Sunday crying. We couldn't go to Banff because I had my awful Day 5 nausea, and DH was still suffering. Hopefully we can go up this weekend.

Mizsissy, good luck with your dinner party. I love your quote about since BC you've had a rebirth. I can relate.

Shorti, as per RitaJean, how did they find your colon cancer? Were they doing scans because of your BC?

Caya, I can almost smell your lilacs...I can hardly wait for spring either as I love to garden.

Jan, do you have to go back to the cancer center every day for the IV fluids?

Skye, you made me laugh so hard, and I know it's not a laughing matter, but the "Back Door Trots" was too funny. My Dad used to call them the "Hershey Squirts"...no better but kind of funny. I have the opposite problem, and I'm finding I actually feel sick from taking Senekot. Anyone else have any better methods.

Big Hugs to all...this week will be better for all us down ones.

Spring is in the air!!!

Joni

Hi ladies

Jan, I hope you are feeling better. Your avatar looks lovely - I'll try to get an avatar up in the next few days...
Lynn, Melia, and others who are frustrated- boy, it must be melt-down week - I had a fit with my hubby today - I also feel like I'm the one who has to be brave and comfort everyone else - can't melt down in front of my daughters (18 and 21, not babies, but still kids), not in front of DH, ( had a brain aneurysm last year, is fine, but sometimes can't take the emotional stuff), try not to do it in front of my mother ( who has been unbeliveably strong)... etc. Extended family and good friends have been great, but only you gals really understand..
thanks for lettting me vent, we WILL get through this, spring is coming
best
caya

Mizsissy,
You never depress me! You either cheer me up or else if you aren't doing well, I just say a prayer for you ... you are great.

We are all going to get thru this; it's just sooo tough sometimes.
Melia

Melia, Taxol is a pretty big bag of solution and if that is all you get then I'd say 2 hours. They purposely don't drip it fast to avoid allergic reactions. In fact I am pretty sure that is why I did have an allergic reaction. I recieve a bag with the zofran in steroids first. That is about 30 to 45 minutes. Then the taxol and then a 30 minute bag of herceptin. Some people take their steroids the night before and only get the zofran in pills. I do take a zofran pill the night of chemo and one the next morning. I have had very mild queasiness. Nothing close to actual throwing up during the evening following treatment. I was taking the zofran for about 3 to 4 days following AC.

To all my new Canada friends: My son is a senior in high school. He has a car that he is paying for so I offered him a trip for a graduation present. I suggested London and he said he wants to go to Canada. I haven't planned anything yet because I don't know when I will truely be finished. I haven't even figured out where we should visit. I should have surgery in May followed by radiation. Im thinking maybe we'll try for the first of August. A great time to get out of New Orleans and hopefully find some "cool" air.
Vicky