The Chemosabe March Cruise

Put me on deck for Tues. May 22 for TAXOL #11 Whoppi!!!! I just may survive this journey.
Bettye

Dawn
I've been having the runny eyes/nose thing going on from time to time. I've been using Allegra D but I can't tell if it's helping or not. I think it may just be allergies - the pollen count has been very high here lately, and some days it's bad and other days I don't have problems.
Holly
Good to hear from you. I just finished Tx #5 (taxol #1) and have really been fighting off the depression. I've been so good up to this point, but the last week or so things really seem to be getting to me. And it takes almost nothing to make me cry.....Melinda getting the boot on American Idol almost did me in! Glad you could enjoy your son's graduation.
Maxgirl
I've been noticing that my remaining stubs on my head don't seem to be going anywhere - which is great because they help anchor my scarves in place.
MissS and Lisa
Don't know how you survive those long tx's..I went Tuesday at 8:15 and did not leave until 1:00 and thought I would crawl out of my skin! Had to pee 3 times during my infusion - just love pole dancing in the bathroom!
3boys4me
You and your family are in my prayers

Keeping you ALL in my prayers with wishes for a peaceful, SE-free weekend
Diana

Day 3 after first Taxol/Herceptin - OW... serious bone pain. I smell like chemo, too. Ow, ow, ow. At least I'm not nauseated.

Have a good weekend, sweet sisters.

Miss S

I asked earlier if it's okay that I repost the "Erma Bombeck" letter on another thread and no one replied...I am assuming that it's okay to do so. I will credit this thread for it...

Hugs
Peggy

Peggy
Go ahead and repost the Erma Bombeck thing with my blessings! I don't mind, and I'm pretty sure Erma wouldn't either! Sorry I did not reply sooner.......
Diana

Diana - you cracked me up with you "pole-dancing in the bathroom" remark! You bet I have to waltz down the way with my pole a couple of times during my marathon infusions - not only do they give me a bag of saline, but I always take a full water bottle, then there is also the crushed ice for during the nasty stuff.
Patti - I am so thrilled for you about the fundraiser and your relief of fears of financial 'doom'. I can relate all too well.
Angel - enjoy having your daughter back at home - sounds like her idea of spoiling you with a massage is a good one. I do hope it all works out.
MissS - wow - how cool about your calluses sloughing off! I am ready for that side-effect! I have had some thickening and peeling of skin on the backs of my hands and was bummed about it until I noticed that a couple of my brown "age" spots (yes, I garden in the sun without gloves) had left along with the scrufty parts. Cool!
Holly - so good to hear you are still among us and making progress on into Taxol. I'm a neupogen gal, too - are you self-administering, too? I get bone pain bad only with the last few - it's weird. But boy, does it keep my neutrophil count waaaaay up there. I'm borderline for needing Procrit like you. I wish there were something (besides liver) that I could do myself. I did have fresh spinach with dinner!

Several people have mentioned chemo smell lingering. Gee - I hope I am not reeking and simply not noticing it. I do enjoy nice long, hot soaks in my deep clawfoot tub with herbal bath salts, so maybe that is helping. Kinda leaching it out of me or something. I'm doing this more often because I don't have to worry about pinning all that long hair up and out of the way.

Lisa

Bar Reservations week of May 21 - 25

Monday: Jacque, Cynthia (#4)
Tuesday: Rosebud (#4), Bettye (#11)
Wednesday: Pmarsh (#4), Taurie (#3)
Thursday: MissShapen (#2 Herceptin)
Friday:

Prayers for smooth sailing!

Lisa, how wonderful that you have that quilt. The one thing you have to remember is, not only is it touching you but it is a blessing to everyone who tied one of those prayers in there! While I was at the yardsale (Thank God for the good days! ) I saw so many people who were being blessed. It may have started being about me and the girls but God used it to touch many, many people. Cherish the quilt and all the prayers in it.

I am not lookin forward to tac#4 this week. I keep hearing about the se's lasting longer and getting worse as you go on. I am praying that doesn't happen for me. Of course, if it does, I will just deal with it! What choice do we have?

I hope everyone has a wonderful week with minimal problems.

Holy Schmoly, Jacque! Atrial Fib.!?!!?!!!! Oh my - you just don't hold back in the reaction dept., now do you? I am glad that you are stable and that your chemo went on as scheduled, but I also am hoping that those plans of which you speak don't involve any cliff-diving or para-sailing or anything to make your sweet heart be stressed. Whoa, I'll just bet you are tired. You poor thing :::pat pat pat::: Get a good night's sleep, hon.
Cynthia - hope your treatment went okay today. Let us know when you come back up for air if they were able to moderate the administration of it for you.
Patti - you are right that this quilt has blessed more than just me. But I declare, as I stood there after the service and watched all of that giving, I felt very blessed. Last night as I was reading before I got under the covers, I wrapped myself up in it and felt overwhelming gratitude.
More gratitude today, as I opened a card from my brother (lives in VA) and out dropped a C-note! That $100 will go a long way, as I've been living on a very meager disability check for months, now.
I saw my Rheumatologist this morning for our quarterly visit (I have 2 auto-immune diseases treated in Rheumatology). She last saw me soon after my diagnosis. She was pleasantly surprised to evaluate me as doing remarkably well - well, of course, I had on my wig and make-up and looked nearly normal. She said to take it easy on myself wrt the weight gain that upsets me so. On the positive side, she confirmed that I have no evidence of any systemic vasculitis = which the Kaiser plastic surgeon sometimes tries to use as an excuse why the microsurgery of a DIEP cannot be done. So I'm one step ahead, there!

Gotta go do my #%!$& neupogen shot!
Lisa

Well, it must be a day of first cause I had my first Taxotere tx and it went well. No allergic reaction to it but they did dope me up on denadril. I didn't know where I was most of the time so that was pretty good..lol I got there at 8:45 had my blood drawn and then the Doc visit. He was running late the told me..an over statement. He was an hour late and then they told me they would start my chemo, that was an other hour wait and then she started the drip of the 25 min pre-meds but didn't check to see if it was dripping. I waited that hole time with nothing running. The nurse told me shed hated when she does that, like I didn't! What should have been a 2 hour deal took until 1 in the afternoon. Guess they don't think my time is important.
I hate being there, there's so much sickness and despair, it hurts to see those people cause I can't do much to help them. They keep telling me I'm sick too but I tell them this is my day spa as long as I get my warm blanket and my "health" treatment..LOL
One good thing did come of today, I'm going to start my rads during the last part of this. Next week I'm, going to get mapped out and then start. I wanted to get everything done before I returned to work in a couple of months. My std runs out before the rads but this way it's all done while I'm off. It's going to be harder but the Doc said it can be done but they may have to give me less chemo more often then the one time every three weeks. Guess my skin might react to the chemo and rads more then just to the rads alone. Anywho..I hope everyone had a better time at the bar then me but at least I'm not hung over like before. Here's looking at you kids...Huga all around..Rosebud

I made it through #4. I don't feel like I have licked any truck tires yet but the day is young! My anemia has gotten worse so I got a shot of Aranesp along with the Neulasta today. Not sure if there are going to be any side effects for that or not. So far, I feel pretty good. But then again, I did sleep the entire day!
I hope all is well with everyone. Another lady in our church was diagnosed with breast cancer this week. (Our church is not that big, either!) I swear it is everywhere. Or am I just seeing it all the time because I have it? Something to ponder. Well, 2/3 done with the chemo for me.

Cynthia..I'm doing Taxotere right now. I have 2 more to go and so far it hasn't been bad. I have had nausea, just tired. The nuelasta shot is what does me in. Makes my skin hurt to the touch and makes me feel like crap. I'm watching my hands and feet now but so far no major se to talk about. I hope all goes well for you..Hugs all around..rosebud

Good Morning!

Rosebud...sorry to hear about your extended stay at chemo. How are your purses doing on ebay?

Jacque...good to hear that you are feeling better with this treatment....continued prayers for your heart to behave.

Pmarsh....congrats on 2/3 done!!! Hope those truck tires stay away this time.

Cynthia...happy to hear that with some adjustments that chemo went better. Guess that IV proves the point to force fluids. From other threads I've read that the Taxotere is much easier than the AC...good luck!

Well thanks everyone for your prayers....I finally had my appointment yesterday with the BS yesterday about the lump I found under my arm....turns out it was a little pocket of fluid...he drained it and it's all gone. I can't tell you how releived I was.

Hope everyone has some nice plans for the long weekend. Do something special for yourselves.
Nancy

Oh, Nancy - I am so happy to hear that your 'lump' was just some fluid to be rid of. WHEW! Great way to start the weekend!
Rosebud - what a comedy of errors you had with your first Taxotere trmt! I can't believe you had a "dry drip" for nearly a half hour! It is cool that they are going to let you start your rads early. Oh - BTW - congrats on getting a great winning bid on that cute pink purse on ebay - I was watching that but it went beyond my budget.
Keenie - thanks for the report from Radiation Island! Have you stocked up on Aloe Vera gel or what do your people recommend?
Jacque - I'm glad that after that atrial fib thang that the SEs this time seem to be a bit milder. <knock wood> I think some of mine have been, too - go figure.
Patti - doesn't it feel good to be 2/3rds done?!? We are really on the downhill slope now! How low does your hemoglobin or hematocrit have to be before your doc decides on the aranacept? I ask because mine has gone lower each time but not yet critical. Sure hope the shot gives you a boost of energy as it boosts the RBCs!
Cynthia - I'm so glad that they worked with you during your infusion this time and that the ativan and the extra fluids made you more comfortable finally. And now you are finished with adriamycin and cytoxan forever, right!?! So many women find the taxol or taxotere portion much more tolerable - and even start to grow back some hair. Maybe you will, too. Are you going to be doing the L-glutamine during the taxotere? It has sure seemed to help me avoid some of the SEs - or something has helped me avoid the bad nail problems and neuropathy so far (please, please, please).
_________________________

I saw the head of Plastic Surgery at Kaiser San Diego yesterday. Her preferred reconstruction is a Latissimus Flap and she does a lot of them. She did agree that with my back ground and desire to resume weightlifting, that a DIEP is indicated for me. She has done them for around four years. Which sounds good - except
1- sometimes she goes 2 months between DIEPs so is not exactly highly proficient
2- it takes 8-11 hours
3- BIG ONE: she has a 1 in 5 failure rate!!!!yikes!
4- she thinks she can give me a B cup despite the fact that I have been gaining weight with each treatment and I think I have a big ol' gut! I am currently a full D cup. This is unacceptable. I wanted an avg. C cup. I am 5'10" and a B cup hasn't been part of my life since I was 11.
None of these would be an issue if I had the procedure done in NOLA, so I am going to have a fight on my hands, to say the least. I'll be posting on the recon. board because I don't think anyone else in our Chemosabe thread is having a bilat. DIEP reconstruction. :::sigh:::

love to you all
Lisa