The Chemosabe March Cruise

hello everyone!
I am doing really well and was at work again all day today. I keep knocking on wood as this is just been generally really easy. I seem to get some the weird SE. I am not tired and have no nausea. I did not get the biopsy as my onc doc said it had to wait until I was done with tx. Made sense and my onc was pissed that my gynecologist didn't know better.
Paywriter - hope you are feeling better soon hate to see you with the wind knocked out of you. Your scrapbook pages are awesome. You have inspired me to finish my thank you notes. I thought I would scrap them instead of sending generic which seems less personal.
Rosebud - Purse's, good for you I can't wait to see the pic's of them. How are you feeling?
Dawn - glad you onc is getting you on a better program. Hope that gives you less SE.
Jann - I colored my hair a few days after my first tx and I was so happy I did too. glad you are feeling better!
Lisa - Congrats at being half way. I am so excited as I will be there on Monday!
Angel - its cold and raining here so I am so jealous of your warm weather.
Hope all of you are feeling somewhat well.
Prayers and hugs sent your way.

whitecotton - so good to hear you are feeling so well. Not tired?!? Miraculous!
Dawn - I know that a recent study showed TC to be a very effective combo, especially so for those with heart issues. I'm sure you'll do great! Great to hear about your birthday present giving you a new project to be creative with.
Maxgirl - my infusion took a solid 5 hours. I get three big syringes of the Adriamycin (while I've heard of others only getting ONE!) and although my Cytoxan drip goes at full speed, they have to give me the Taxotere a little slower becaue I had some reaction to it the first time. They also give me plenty of saline throughout and then flush my port and run some Heparin, too. I took in my books my magazines, my lunch and my Cool Hand Luke DVD so it wasn't too bad.

I've been doing some gentle gardening today, it's such a beautiful afternoon. I arranged 22 roses in vases this morning! The Spring flush has really kicked in! Pretty woozy after lunch and tummy was roiling, so had to just rest. Feel more stable now. Have to get ready to give myself the first of this series of Neupogen shots. I think I'll really be able to feel like I'm half-way when I finish these additional injections. grrrr!

hugs to all,
Lisa

Hi Everyone,

Sorry it sounds like so many of us are feeling poorly. At least we don't seem to have any major catastrophies going on at the moment (IE hospitalizations). I hope I don't regret saying that out loud.

Maxgirl, did you ever get the PM I sent you a few days ago? I am in the days of my mouth being funky... feels like there is a coating on it. I read on a different thread about girls getting an RX from their dentists for flouride to use during chemo. I think I'm going to call mine and ask about it. I feel like the chemo is eating my entire mouth.

You ladies making quilts are so talented. My Mom used to make beautiful quilts. I can't wait to see your pocketbooks, Rosebud. Are you going to sell them?

Angel, I hope your knees get better after you stop the Neulasta. Actually, aren't you getting your txs every three weeks? I think you'll be fine without the shot. Three weeks is normally enough time to regenerate the cells on your own.

Nancy, how is the biotene oral mouth freshener working for you? My mouth is okay about half the time and the other half is very ikky! Could you please put me down for Thursday for A/C #4? Thanks so much for keeping up with that!

Terri, thanks for the heads on on the friends list! I am trying to add all our March ladies. I hope you're feeling good. I can tell that last one threw you for a loop.

Diana, how have you been fairing after tx #3? I am just not doing well! I'm not nauseated, but the neuropathy in my feet is killing me. It is getting worse each day. I believe Maxgirl said hers when away by itself and I am just waiting. I have an RX for Neurontin, but it doesn't seem to be helping yet. It almost makes me cry to go to the back door to let the dog out.

As far as work goes, they did end up saying all or nothing at all. I put in the ADA paperwork and my HR gal seems to think it will be approved, so I won't get fired. I should know within a week or so.

Sybil, how did your first tx go? I hope you got well and were able to get it. Let us know.

Thanks to everyone who enjoyed my son and my dog. My older son is coming to visit soon and if I can get him to buzz his hair, I may get brave enough to post a pic of the three of us with matching heads. LOL

Lisa, just reading your post about three syringes full of the Red Devil makes my stomach churn. I would love to see some of those roses you're arranging. I hope you're feeling okay....

Dawn, sorry about the loss of your hair..... that is one thing that really gets to a lot of women, but just remember it will probably grow back in more beautiful than ever.

I went for my CBC today and of course, both my red and white counts are low AGAIN. They get lower and lower each time. My white was 1.2 today. So I will lay low for a couple of days. I did go see my mom and wore a surgeon's mask. She probably thought I was trying to rob her.

Ok, off to bed with me! I'm thinking of you all and holding you close in my prayers.

Miss S

Good Morning!

Day 4 after 3tx and feeling okay..going to onc today for cbc...keep your fingers crossed. I usually don't feel bad until the second week so I praying that this time I'll miss that.

The Biotene Oral Balance Dry Mouth Moisturizer seems to be effective. I've used the Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash since the beginning of tx and this seems to be a good addtion. It has 5 moisturizers, 18 amino acids and proteins plus calcium & omega-3. Taste like bubble gum and just a little squirt will do.

Maxgirl...I'm also a 1949 girl. Any ideas on how I could find if I'm a DES girl since my Mother is no longer with me.

Dawn...sorry to hear about your hair...mine hung in there for about 5 or 6 days until it drove me so crazy I just couldn't deal with it anymore. I never buzzed, just pulled and cut with scissors...I still have about 200 hairs that continue to grow and a little stubble coming in ( go figure).

MissShapen...hope your ADA works out for you...I'm sorry that you are having to deal with this now. Prayers for you CBC.

Angel..happy to hear you are feeling so well and that your knees got better. Please do not feel bad about saying how well you are doing...it's a inspiration for me.

HollyHopes...it has been so long since we've heard from you. Sending you tons of prayers, positive thoughts and warm hugs. Please let us know you are okay.

Thank you to all my fellow cruisers...you have been a God send to me!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Nancy

I belly up to the bar this Monday. Glad to hear most are doing well and not suffering too much. Have a great weekend! Jacque

Hi, everyone - feeling OK after treatment #3 on Wednesday. Just suffering a little with the big C, even with two Colace per day. Does anyone have any suggestions? It's kinda funny, but with the last two treatments, it seems like the SE are delayed more--not starting until the 3rd or 4th day. Maybe the body is just getting used to the infusion of Drano!

I'm glad that most of you are feeling well, and will be thinking of those of you that don't......eyes on the horizon, girls!

Luv to all,

Marshabel

Hi all,

Have my 3rd cocktail this Monday. My white count was 1.6 last Monday, so I was given the neupogen shot for 4 days. I guess 21 days between cocktails wasn't enough this time. But, it did it's job - my cbc today showed my white count is now 21.9. Yikes! I never expected that. I sure hopes it holds me over for awhile because the bone pain from the shot is rather unpleasant. I bent over this morning and it felt like someone put a vise on my ribcage and squeezed. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. My heartbeat stayed over a 100 bpm for a few hrs going as fast as 130 sometimes. Needless to say, I was a bit freaked out. I eventually called my onc's office and the nurse said it was normal and due to the neupogen. I sure hope these se's go away soon.

Marshabel - I wish I could help you with the big C, but I still haven't found a remedy that works for me. I think the problem is that I have IBS, so it's complicating things. I actually did better after the 2nd tx - I took the colace every night before bed, as well as probiotic capsules and magnesium and the big C didn't last as long this round. But, it came back a little over a week later for only about a day, but I ended up with a bleeding hemorrhoid. Eeek. A few days later, I was better, but it was back again yesterday and so is the hemorrhoid. I'm at a loss as to what to do - I take colace every night still. I'm a bit nervous about taking fiber because I'm already bloated enough. I hope you figure out something that works for you.

Angel - I'm glad to hear you're doing so well. It gives me hope as well so don't feel badly about sharing.

Nancy - So glad to hear that all your hair hasn't fallen out because neither has mine and I was beginning to worry that maybe my chemo isn't working. lol I've shaved my head a bunch of times in the hope of having a smooth scalp, but some of it keeps growing, mostly on the top. It's so weird how chemo effects everyone differently. I've used the Biotene Oral Balance, but I wasn't crazy about it because it was like squirting banana flavored pudding in my mouth. After your post, it dawned on me that I was probably using too much. Oops. I hope you got good results on your cbc today.

Keenie - wow, you're almost done! That is too cool and I'm so jealous. I'm going to be on the cruise forever - lol. I'm surprised at how many cruisers are almost done or half way there. Feel free to visit and let us know how the next part of our tx will go.

Miss S - sorry to hear about the neuropathy. That sounds miserable. I hope you get some relief. I hope your white count comes up, too.

Dawn - glad to hear your onc is doing his best to make your cruise safer and more tolerable. I hope your new cocktails do the trick. Sorry to hear about your hair. If memory serves me right, I had bald spots by the next day, but I kept pulling on my hair so I'm sure that sped up the process.

JacqueN - I finally have someone to have cocktails with on Monday. I'll be there early, like 9:30, so I'll save you a place at the bar.

PMarsh34 - thanks for the info about financial help. I have horrid prescription drug coverage so I may need to get assistance someday. So far, I've just been avoiding expensive meds. I've been fortunate that Ativan has helped a lot with the nausea and is cheap.

Melissa - sorry you had to wait to get your bx. It's hard to be patient and put off the things we need or want to do. I saw a dermatologist today who said I needed at least two areas biopsied, and one spot on my nose frozen off. I told her it would have to wait. The spot on my nose suddenly changed after my first chemo, but she said it's precancerous. That's a relief.

So, you still have hair, too. I had just assumed that when our hair fell out, it would all fall out. Oh, well, it's true it helps my scarves stay on...kind of like velcro. lol

Good luck to everyone having cocktails this week. I'm wishing you a great, se free week. Hugs to everyone feeling sick. I hope you feel better soon. Congratulations to those celebrating their half-way point. I can't wait to get there. Hope everyone we haven't heard from in awhile is doing okay.

Cynthia

Wow Melissa.... .1 and .2 for the white blood count sounds really low to me. I'll have to ask my cancer nurses what they do for a count that low here. Does you doc tell you to stay home during that time? I'll try to remember to ask when I go to the bar on Thursday.

Miss S

Checking in this weekend. Had Taxol on Thursday. Hated the Benedryl beforehand - made me all herky jerky and had to get some Ativan. Onc. forgot to order a new MUGA scan, so I couldn't get my Herceptin - Have to order a scan for next week and hope the results come in time for my next infusion - next Thursday (every Thursday 12X). Felt pretty good that afternoon - still have no appetite from the sinusitis - not being treated anymore with antibiotics - Onc thinks it's viral - so still suffering with that. Counts were good - so no problem with the infusion. I seem to have alot of the Big D - didn't exactly make it to the bathroom this morning - that's how bad it gets, but other than that I can't feel any SE's to speak of. I'm sure that will change, and I will try to update.
Hugs to all of you out there - we're making it one day at a time!
Love,
Sybil

Rosebud, that is absolutely adorable! You are so talented! Would love to know the price range....

Miss S

I'll be doing #8 of 12 Taxol on Tues. My hair got so thin I had to buzz it. I have much more gray than I thought. HA
Bettye

Cynthia - It sounds like you and I are having the same problem. It's miserable, isn't it? Good luck and soft cushions to both of our bahoochies!

Jacque - thanks for the info. At this point, price doesn't matter.

Rosebud - I am a purse freak, and I love those!

Terri - glad to hear that you are feeling better. The weather is beautiful here in Arlington, too.

Sybil,
I highly recommend eating yogurt if you have the big 'd'. Especially if you've been taking anti-biotics like I was. I had it so bad the week after round 1 I was literally sleeping on the toilet and I'm not joking. It was hitting about every 10 minutes and just wouldn't stop. Saw 3 Dr.'s and took Lomatil, Immodium etc to no avail. 15 min after I started the yogurt it was gone completely. May work for you and may not but it's sure worth a try.

Marshbel,
I have to admit I switched over to the Colace from the Senekot S after someone suggested it here. It doesn't work for me as well. I switched back to the Senekot like the Onc suggested and it works much better. I agree with you about the delayed reactions. Mine usually hit around week 2 and I have 2 court appearances this week so I'm hoping I'm not in the middle of my 'd' regimine at that point.....lol

Dawn,
I know exactly what you mean about shaving the head. I knew it was coming, was prepared for it, even kind of wanted to get it over with. Only problem was once I looked in the mirror I cried like a baby. I still hate the way I look bald and won't even go out if I don't have to. It's just wayyyyyyyyy too hot here to keep wearing hats and scarves all the time. I'm kind of a home body anyway so it doesn't matter to me so much. Funny thing is 2 times I caught myself going out to the car and totally forgot to put anything on my head. I ran for the house like a banchie hoping none of the neighbors notices. Oh well if they did who the hell cares anyway. It's me who has the problem with it not everyone else. I guess it's just something we have to get used to and deal with.

playwriter,
Glad you're feeling somewhat back to normal. I bet that big ole burger was fabulous because it even sounds great to me right now at 12 midnight....lol

Rosebud,
I absolutely love the purses. I picked up quilted purses with matching wallets from a website I order from a lot. They were one of the things to go into the goodie bags for when the sil's will all be here for our girlie party Memorial Weekend. Funny thing is they were all put on backorder for 2 mos so had to cancel them. I wish I was in the mood to sew right now, I'd make my own too.

Keenie,
Stick around sweetie you're welcome to be here as long as you like. I'm assuming you're doing rads next?

Here's hoping everyone due to the bar on Monday does well and I pray the se's are minimal if at all.

Love,
Angel

Bar Reservations week of April 29 - May 5

Monday: Whitecotten (#3), Jacque, Cynthia (#3)
Tuesday: Rosebud (#3), BettyeE (#8)
Wednesday: Taurie (#2), PMarsh (#3),
Keenie (last tx..HURRAY!)
Thursday: Playwriter (#3), MissShapen (#4), Sybilvox
Friday:

Positive energy coming your way.....calm sailing!