The Chemosabe March Cruise

Morning Ladies,

Marshabel, so happy to hear about your good blood counts. I know you happy to out from under house arrest. Go out and enjoy.

MissShapen, happy you are getting to experience some good days and for your job extension. Things usually come in three's, so you have something to look forward to. May peace be with you and your family for your cousin's memorial service. I'm sending prayers.

Playwriter, Nice that you were able to postpone chemo so you could attend you scrapbooking retreat. My daughter does that and really enjoys it. How you have a wonderful time with friends and just try to forget about BC for the weekend.

Angel- loved the poem and it oh so true. Sending you prayers and hugs for your visit to the bar today.

Diana, happy you are not suffering a hangover from you visit to the bar yesterday...keep it up. So sorry that you were not in the 1% crowd, but what great family support you are receiving. Thanks for the book tips, I'll check them out.

Patti, what a wonderful daughter you have..it brought tears to my eyes. You should be oh so proud of her...and it speaks volumes to the way you've raised her.

I'm feeling fine after my second trip to the bar yesterday..hope it holds out. Think it helps to know what to expect and what works and what doesn't.

Here's hoping for a wonderful day for everyone!
Nancy

i'm not part of the 1% either, gals. went to the bathroom this morning, and there was a shower of little hairs, so i reached up and tugged on my hair, and half of the hairs i tugged on came out in my hand. am going to let my 6 YO DD cut my hair today -- only time in her life she'll be allowed to give Mommy a hair cut....
there's a verse in the Bible that says God loves us so much, He even numbers the hairs on our head. well, that angel in charge of counting mine is working overtime, revising the total....

I stay in the moment by thanking God for this day. i don't know what tmrw will bring, but i know that today, i feel pretty good, i'm still alive, i have great friends (like y'all!) and family, and God loves me always. so i thank Him for what i have today.

Yes, I'm April 5th. Thanks for checking.

Updated Bar Reservation for this week

Thursday: Musicmom, Maxgirl, MisK, MissShapen, Jillrush

Friday: HollyHopes

Good Luck girls....don't want any of you drinking too much

I just staggered in after TAC treatment #2 - only 4.5 hours this time instead of nearly 7 first time around. I feel like I got hit by a truck and now having tinnitus to boot. That has GOT_ to stop soon.

When I came up the front porch steps, there on my bench was a huge, festively wrapped basket of goodies. It is positively overflowing with environmentally friendly Hand and Body lotion, Energizing & Uplifting Body Cleanser & Bubble Bath, Fabulous Foot Soak, Energizing & Uplifting Spa Therapy Crystals (I'll use this tonight!), a huge pillar candle, a mesh scruubie and a 'friendship ball - which I'll have to open to see what on earth THAT is. It's filled with pretty shells and has shells on the outside of the basket, too. Quite the DELUXE presenta
I'll see if I can share it:



And of course, it came with a sweet card with a pretty shell collection
print on it (suitable for framing which I just might!) with love from my
ever-so-thoughtful sister, who wrote, 'That's TWO down and you're "getting
better all the time!'"

YAY!!!! TWO down. One-third of the way there!
Now, need to go lie down
love to all my chemosabe sistahs!
Lisa

I have joined the group of the bald and beautiful. My son buzzed my head tonight. He keeps his buzzed off, but now mine is shorter than his! I laughed so hard when I looked in the mirror. I look just like him. I haven't had a chance to get upset, yet. I'm sure it's coming if I can't keep a wig or hat on my head!

I want you all to know that just knowing you were doing this same thing made it easier for me. I know I am not alone and isn't everything just a bit nicer with a friend?

Thanks!!

Miss S

Hell hath no fury like a woman shorn!

Hey, just curious. those of u who are pre-menopausal -- have y'all had yr period yet? i know one of the possible SE is being launched into menopause, so since there are several of us mid-40s chickies on this cruise, thought i would ask.

Thanks, everyone, for the good wishes for tomorrow. I don't think I worry about it anymore, but here I am still awake at 1 a.m., and it's so nice to see your positive thoughts coming our way. See you at the bar, Miss S, musicmom, jill, and misK -- hope the seas are smooth for all of us.

taurie -- What the health dept. told your daughter was practically criminal. No wonder kids don't take the precautions they should when things are distorted like that. Then they don't believe anything.

My onc nurse said the Decadron was a booster for the anti-nausea meds, but I turned them down. Haven't had too bad a time nausea-wise, but maybe I just got lucky (so far). I'm glad to hear you're getting all the meds lined up before you get started.

sybil -- Since I'm one of the early March cruisers (tx # 3 tomorrow), I really am thankful for your reports on your experiences. I've been under the impression that this is a rough one, so it's good to hear you're doing pretty well.

How do I live in the moment? I don't always, but when those moments of dread and anxiety hit, I let myself indulge for a little while, then get back to business. My work really engages me, too, and between that and my family, my days are full, especially since everything seems to take twice as long as it used to!

Were you the one asking about eye problems? I've had trouble with fuzzy vision and dryness and found Liquid Tears seems to help for several hours at a time.

pmarsh -- I'm still stunned by your sex life. LOL I wouldn't turn it down if DH really wanted to, but it certainly hasn't been on my mind. After I saw your post, I asked DH if he had considered it, and he said he just figured I had too much on my plate. Neither one of us is thrilled by the prospect of a condom either. Maybe if all the planets align...

Holly -- So glad to hear you're enjoying some SE-free days, and I hope this tx is kinder to you.

marshabel -- Which chemo meds are you on? I'm on AC right now, and I'm getting paranoid that I haven't lost all my hair yet (tomorrow is Day 28, tx3) -- it makes me worry that the chemo isn't doing its job. It's thinning all the time, but much more slowly than I expected, although I do need a refill on my lint roller.

Well, it's 1:30 -- better get another drink of water and try to sleep.

Playwriter - I got my period 1 week late after #1 and I was pissed - I thought for sure I would be done with it and at least have one positive side effect, but NOOOOOOOO

Musicmom, Maxgirl, MisK, MissShapen, Jillrush - good luck tomorrow - I hope the waters are calm for you

I wore my wig to John's service tihis evening and got great reviews - not that I think anyone would have the nerve to tell me it looked bad -- but I was OK with it. I wore the wig cap under it but had to go to the bathroom to remove that - it was cutting off my circulation. I think I'll wear a different one to the funeral tomorrow to mix things up a bit.
Sorry for the rest of you who can't sleep either. I think the lunesta is kicking in so I'm gonna try again...nighty night

I'm going wig shopping tomorrow -- don't want to freak everyone out on Easter by showing up bald to church.

Blessings to those going in for their next tx!

dawn -- YAY! progress! u got to join this cruise, girl, we need ya for the shuffleboard team!

angel -- yay for feeling good! we'll never take one of those for granted any more.....

lisaSDCA -- what a great surprise from yr sis! i'm so happy that was there for you!

i'm having meals brought in twice a week, and the lady who brought food today also brought a Subway gift card, just i case the DDs didn't like what she cooked, LOL. and my best friend from junior high sent us a Papa John's gift card! so that brightened my day, as i am not doing a lot of cooking.

Musicmom, thank you so much for sharing that story. I am sitting here crying like a baby. How wonderful your sister is!!! It is words and thoughts like that that make this whole thing manageable.
Playwriter, I haven't gotten my period yet but my face looks like a teenager's so I am sure it is coming. That and I have been pms'ing for a couple of days and didn't realize it until I read your post. Wouldn't it be nice if we could have one of the positive side effects? I am hoping that #2 on Wednesday will get rid of it for a while. If not, I sure hope I don't get it the week after a chemo cocktail. Or at least my kids and bf do!!!!

I had good news today. I have been going through this whole thing without insurance. Racking up quite the bills! I got notice from the state that I have been APPROVED for medicaid. And they made it retroactive to the date of my biopsy! I said from the beginning, I will come here (hospital cancer center) until they lock the doors and don't let me come in anymore. Well, the result of that is that I have been receiving my treatment. I have gotten everything I needed and now God has shown me how to pay for it! I am working with a financial counselor from the cancer center who told me, "Don't let the money ever stop you from getting treatment. Get what you need because somehow WE are going to find a way to pay for it."

I didn't want cancer but it sure does show you that God is in control and when you give it up to Him, He takes care of it.

It appears most are doing good this week. I finally got past the truck running over me. Talked with the onc and we are changing the day I get the Nuelasta. Hopefully that will change the result. He did say if it doesn't, we will go to every three week infusions. I think I won't mention the pain again if I still have it at the same level. I will just pull the blinds for four days! lol I really don't want another two months on this cruise.

playwriter - I have been working my way through menopause for 12 years. I had cramps that were amazingly severe yesterday. Talked to the onc and we may finally be getting through to the end of this. I sure hope so.

And congrats to all who are shaving. Embrace the baldness. This is your torch to carry you through this journey. I am having a pizza and a buzz tomorrow night. We are braiding my hair into sections so everyone who comes can have a bit to shave. It will be fun. We all know, we CAN make bald beautiful! And those of you with wigs will be stunning as well, and will make everyone around you envious of your beauty.

pmarsh34 - I too have been facing this without insurance. And lo and behold, there was medicaid for myself as well. I do believe that God provides what is needed. It is a relief to be able to face the healing process with one less worry.

I just love hearing about your families and children involved in this. They too are rising to the occasion. Strength runs in all of us!

Being single and living alone, I must say this BC family has made this cruise much more bearable. I am not glad to be here, but glad that I have such wonderful cruisemates.

Playwriter...I got my period the day after my first tx. That was so crappy to say the least. Up till that point, they have been really sketchy and figured I am in that post-menopausal group. My cancer is hormone positive so hopefully either way, I am knocking at the door or NO MORE..LOL Guess time will tell here.

Hello Sisters!
Feeling pretty darn good on this morning after - had my meds and then a bowl of homemade oatmeal with raisins and flaxseeds. Energy level about medium, improved from last evening post-infusion. Even the ringing in my ears has subsided a good bit.
Angel - I don't know what I said that made you think I've had such a tough time with my TAC, but thanks. Other than feeling like I was mauled yesterday directly after treatment (a good night's sleep fixed that), it's been a remarkably smooth ride. My white counts have stayed stable, I've worked in my garden, I've gone out with friends, I walk with my dog every evening, I have enough hair left (Day#23) to go with or without - and the SEs that have reared their ugly heads have been met with a cure straight away. I only pray that I can say most of these things after treatments #4-5 (the real killers, i am told).
pmarsh34 and 1stlite - what tremendous news on your finances! What a relief! One less source of anxiety through these trying times.
Jacque - thanks for the tip about the cotton wig liner. Where did you buy yours? Do you know where they are they available? I wore a 'fall' that I got from the ACS to treatment yesterday. I used a long, oblong scarf i had to make a thin headband at the demarcation btwn my hair and the fall down the back. I have enough hair that I had bangs in front of the scarf band, some side burns, and a shorter layer in back. Made it look very natural. It's my only human hair piece and I love the shine and texture. Later, I'll take out the combs that secure it to your hair and put on velcro, I guess. It was fun and not as itchy as trying on wigs has been.I'll wear this under hats and ball caps a lot I think (hope).

If everything continues to go well today, I have a long evening out planned. My church shares a Maundy Thursday Agape Meal (there will be about 250 of us), a simple soup supper with bread, cheese and fruit. Then the group silently moves by candlelight to the Sanctuary where we share a communion service in the presence of a Living Tableau of DaVinci's Last Supper. The first year for the live 'painting' was last year, and I missed it. I have heard spectacular things about it, so I am determined to be there tonight, meds willing.

About pre/post menopausal = I was perimenopausal when my cancer was found. The cycles had been stretching out longer and longer. To about once every 3-4 months (loved that!) Sure enough, I had one the week of my surgery. I'm not expecting another - ever. Being 49, mu onc. said he could pretty much guarantee I'd experience a permanent chemo-pause. As I was having very few peri-menopausal symptoms, I'm hoping it stays that way through this.

{{{hugs}}} to all at the bar receiving cocktails today!

Lisa