The Chemosabe March Cruise

ahoy, jeanne!
I sail the same day you do. TAC every 2 weeks x8. not sure after that.
glad you'll be sailing with me. there are ~28 of us.

oh Jeanne....so sorry to have to welcome you on this most undesired of cruises! Hugs and hello from all of us who are 'marching' to the tune....

YOu've had quite a journey already and you sound like you have a great and strong spirit - can believe I just said that cause I get so sick of hearing it when others say it to me!!!

I got one of those letters from Kaiser telling me not to worry, most findings are benign but could I please come in for follow-up. I sent them a copy of my path report which I had alrady been given 3 weeks earlier post surgery!! Gotta love bureaucracies!!

I have 2nd A/C tx this Friday, and my host will be my 18 y/o son who is spending his high school senior Spring Break with dear old mom instead of with his buds...BY CHOICE!! Must have done something right along the way...

Stay checked in with everyone and we will all get through this!!

-Holly

Well, I'm off to try and get some sleep before the big day tomorrow. I'm looking forward to at least a few hours of sleep where I forget I have cancer.

I have my bag packed full of stuff to do, and snacks to eat if I feel up to it. Haven't decided whether to have breakfast or not. Guess I'll see how I feel in the morning.

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice from those of you who have already boarded this cruise. I really appreciate you taking the time to share.

Cynthia

playwriter
Just gotta love those bf's and hubbys don't ya. Hey where the hell are they when we want real sex anyway? Asleep or too tired as usual. Funny how they can play when they know they can't have any.......lol

maxgirl
Sorry about that. Got you and Holly mixed up there. Well I guess it doesn't matter which end it comes out of it still makes ya sick...lol

refugee
I know what you mean about not having enough to eat. I notice that only 30 min after a meal I will get a bit nauseated and if I eat even a little container of jello or whatever it helps. Funny how I always thought cancer would make me loose weight. Never realized how much we really did need to make it though this. I'm glad you mentioned about the Instant Breakfast. I forgot I have boxes of it put away in the hall cupboard with all my other food stock. I've been doing the protein shake thing and it seems to work out great so far but I know what you mean about it being a bit too much. I use mostly ice in mine but hubby and son always want to add a ton of ice cream to the blender to turn it into a strawberry shake...lol I said that's fine but let me get mine first will ya.......I could see what I'd weigh with 4 scoops of ice cream in the blender every day.........lmbo

Also the Ensure or Boost products I know one of them does make a diabetic formula because I used to get it for my mom. Not sure which one or if both companies make it.

I'm not enjoying my water either. I don't have the metallic taste but for some reason it just seems bland to me. I tried the flavored waters and liked them much better. Problem is everytime I open the bottle it sprays out all over the place. Didn't realize when I got them they were carbonated. Havn't checked as yet to see if I can get them uncarbonated but will check on it.

jillrush
I know what you mean about the allergies. I have been fighting an allergy eye infection for a year now that drains constantly. If I stay indoors, no problem. The minute I step outside it starts in again and I fight with it for days. Had dozens of meds to no avail. Funny thing is I finally found a cure for it. It's called CHEMO!! I've been outdoors in the 90degree temps and breezes for the past 4 days and not one drip from the eye yet..can ya believe it? I'm just wondering how it will do when I finally loose the eyelashes as that's one of the things you get is weepy eyes. Guess we'll find out won't we.

Havn't had the hair loss as yet but sure been needing a dye job for the longest time........lol What's the point now right? I hear it usually hits at about the 2-3 week mark. Met a sweet lady at Chemo last week who has lost about 1/2 of hers and it was her 2nd infusion at the 2 week mark.

rosebud1962
I'm not looking forward to the day I see my hair on my pillow. Funny thing is I grew mine long the past 2 1/2 years. First time in over 30 years. Had it cut short 2 months ago when I first was going to do chemo then had the postponment. And to think I could have kept it another 2 months....lol I'm not looking forward to the dreaded buzz since that's when everyone around you will be whispering and buzzing like a bunch of bees behind your back with the dreaded points and stares. "OMG she has cancer!!!" It's like a sign accross your forehead. But I'm with you. I do have tons of hats and scarves and a couple of wigs lined up and waiting but will probably not use the wigs in this heat here. Not unless I just have to go somewhere that would require one.

1stlite
Glad to see you're able to make a whole party of it. I don't have anyone except my hubby and my 15 year old son to buzz. Hubby wears his buzzed anyway and I'd love to buzz my 15 year old but he'll never let that happen. Hey he loves to buzz dad's hair. Maybe if I let him buzz me, he'll let me buzz him........hmmmm worth a thought!!

musicmom3
We're taking all late boarders and you're getting in just before the hull doors are gonna close on us. I'm adding you to the list. Hope whoever's keeping it they don't mind. I just know that we're not here every day to keep up with everything.
As far as the periods and pregnancy test......I'm laughing my butt off. You should have told her "Oh honey I havn't had sex in 18 years so it doesn't matter"......lol
As far as the mammo clinic wanting to see if you're following up that's definitely not a first. I swear I wonder sometimes how these people actually collect a pay check don't you?

Taurie
I'm sure hoping you have a sail date before the end of the month here since you started this......lol

JannM
Have you heard anything about your 1st date yet? Let us know if you can.

Ok New Tips for Today
If doing Taxol or Taxotere, keep your fingers and toes in ice water during treatment so you don't get dark nails and they fall off......and at the same time keep popping Ibuprofin or Tylenol to ward off headaches from Cytoxin....while sucking ice chips and water to ward off thrush or mouth sores....

Have a big party in your neighborhood and have everyone get a buzz cut so we all look like the Stepford Wives!!That way we won't feel out of place......lol

Angel

Well, this is my last day before I set sail and I just can't wait..LOL I think I'm all prepared but I know I am not. You know ladies, I get more looks from wearing my bandanna then I do from just going out bald. I haven't gotten any looks when I don't wear my covers. I thought that was kinda funny myself. Speaking of periods, I had the same fight with a nurse when I had my port put in Friday. I have had a lumpectomy, PET/CT, x-rays ect..and she said I could be pregnant cause I didn't have my period this month. I told her if I was, the kid has 5 arms by now and a tail, she didn't laugh but I did at her. My periods don't arrive on a timely basis anymore but..they did the test anyway. Well, hope you all have a great day..rose

Here are the tips I have............
1. One thing the nutritionist said about protein. If you are er/pr+, stay away from soy based protein. Apparently it can trigger tumor growth.

2. If you have lots of people wanting to help, try setting up a website at www.lotsahelpinghands.com. I have done this and it helps me to keep track of who is doing what. When everyone at church says what do you need, I refer them to the website and I can update it whenever I am feeling well enough. It also allows me to keep people updated on what is going on with me without them having to call or feel like they are bothering me. This website is one thing that has given me a feeling of control in a very uncontrollable situation.

3. Another really good cream is Aquaphilic. It is an over-the-counter product but you may have to ask the pharmacist for it. It is a little on the expensive side but it works awesome for extremely dry skin.

4. There is a program offered called "Look Good, Feel Better". It is designed to help women offset appearance-related changes from cancer treatment. You can search for a program by zipcode by going to http://www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org/women/program_finder/.

Melissa - there is another option beside a port - it's called a PICC line and it is a less invasive procedure. They put in a line above or below the bed of your elbow and thread a fine tiny little catheter into your Superior VEna Cava or atrium and use that to draw blood and deliver the chemo. The only inconvenience is you have to keep it dry..so cover when showering. This was initially a challenge for me but now I've got it figured out and it is fine....It will last the whole 4 months of chemo for me.

Take care my dear,
Holly

geez Dawn - you can't get a break!! I work in healthcare and am so irritated by all the gazillion ways we make life difficult for patients and families...

Melissa, I had my port put in on Wednesday and my chemo the next day. Jacque

hi all.
I am back from chemo class. Looks like I set sail with you fine ladies tomorrow!
They are going to give me a port yeah!
But I won't have it for my first tx. They don't want to wait for the port.
The first place I am going to go on the ship is the bar, anyone want to join me?
musicmom3, that turkey analogy was so funny!
Thank you Holly, Jacque and Mucicmom3 for your input with your port!
I am totally freaking out about tomorrow. Have to admit I am so scared.
thanks for listening
Melissa

FINALLY feelng back to normal, no lingering SE at all. Looks like I'll have a little more than a week of feelinng good before the next cruise, next Thursday. I'll take it. Been back to work full time since last week and it feels good to have some normalcy back in my life.

Good luck to everyone sailing this week. And to everyone still waiting for a cruise date, I know the wait is so frustrating , hang in there.

hugs to all
Linda

Oh my goodness, what a terrible day.

First thing this morning, I went to get my port. First off, they could not get a vein and stuck me at least 20 times trying to insert the port. I am black and blue on my chest and neck. She said she thought it would be dangerous to me to continue trying. Now I have to go Thursday to a vascular surgeon for him to try to insert a port. I had no idea that not being able to get it in was even a possibility. It hurts so bad and I couldn't get my RX filled because the friend who took me was already 2 hours late getting back to work. I came home and just hopped into bed and tried to sleep. If I would have been smart, I would have at least taken some ibuprophen!

Secondly, I found out today that I have lymphedema. I suspected it, but my surgery was so recent, I was hoping it was swelling left over from surgery. My doctor said that since she took out 31 lymph nodes, it was almost unavoidable for me.

THEN I get a call from my PCP telling me that I need to contact my oncologist about my ECHO, because it was not normal. By the time I woke up, it was too late to call my doctor.

Right now I am planning to get the chemo tomorrow without my port. I'm not sure what is wrong with my heart, though, or if I am even eligible for chemo anymore.

I am very discouraged. One bright sopt to my day was a beautiful little bouquet of flowers delivered that were from my cousin. They were in a bright yellow smiley face mug and the flowers were yellow and white. Made me smile, despite the terrible pain I was in.

So, whitecotton... looks like you'll be starting with me and Rosebud tomorrow. I hope we all make it!

Cynthia, I was praying for you and MisK today while I lay waiting for my surgery. I hope your first treatment went well. MisK didn't have too much trouble with her port and she is ready to go soon.

pmarsh, thanks for the links to lookgoodfeelbetter and helpinghands. As soon as I feel a bit better, I am definitely checking it out!

I know tomorrow will be a better day for me. Thanks for listening to me whine!

Love you all!!

Miss S

Miss S I am so sorry to hear of your bad day. Hug! Hope things work out well for you.
Maxgirl sorry for the hair loss that sucks.
Rose you buy the first drink and I'll get the next round. Hope it goes smooth for you and I will be thinking of you all day.
Melissa

Good luck to everyone starting tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you!!! It definitely wasn't as bad as I expected, if that helps any. Except for the headache, and being tired later, I felt the same as I always do. {{hugs}}

Cynthia

Hi all,

Sorry to have been out of touch for a couple of days, but AC#2 from Thurs. has really tired me out. I felt okay on the day of, but by Saturday I just felt out of it. Today I made it into work at 3:30 pm! And that was an achievement! My scalp hurts and my hair is now really starting to shed. I think I'll get it buzzed either Tuesday or Wednesday and just get it over with.

To all those just getting started on your cruise - I hope all goes smoothly.

Steph