The Chemosabe March Cruise

Hi fellow cruisers -
I have been in a funk for a few days and haven't been able to shake it, despite indulging in a meltdown last night. I have a 'friend' (little more than an acquaintance) coming in for the weekend tomorrow to 'help' despite my very broad hints that now is not a good time. It's one of those trips that is more about making him feel good (oh, I spent the weekend helping my friend with breast cancer) rather than my true needs (not to have a houseguest to deal with).
I just wanted to stop in and say "whew" for the close calls for MissS and rosebud - what an awful thing to cope with in the middle of dealing with chemo!

I hope to be back soon in order to do a proper post.
Meanwhile, hugs all around
Lisa

Hey Lisa,
I've found I've had a few days of just feeling weepy and generally miserable. I think it's the chemo changing my hormones - just in time for the Tamoxifen!

Before my dx last December, I had finally lost the 20 pounds I'd be hanging onto since my "baby" was born. So when I heard that the Tamoxifen can make you gain weight - as well as give you "vaginal atrophy" and even more hot flushes - you can imagine my excitement!

Being vain and shallow, I asked my onc about the weight thing and she told me it's more a slow down of your metabolism brought about by the "push" into menopause. And she also told me that I just needed to continue to eat low fat and exercise. I was even more delighted to hear that. I start the meds next week, and I've already warned my DH that I may be even more hot and bothered than I have been. Poor man.

And Lisa, I can also relate about the "friend" who wants to come and stay with you. I finally convinced my friend (and her family) that they really can't stay with us next week, but we'd be happy to meet them for lunch at a restaurant - near the motel they can stay at! I really do love these people, but our famly is just not in a place to be entertaining overnight guests for a weekend. I don't know why some people are so fantastic and some people don't really get it.

Maybe you can get some nice pre-made items from the deli. I live in a rural setting, so can't take advantage of take-out or delivery, but maybe you can!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, feeling well and strong!
Christine

Good morning ladies and happy Friday!

Rosebud, I cannot believe a nurse told you that MIGHT be a sign of bone mets, but don't worry! That is not something you say to someone with bc! I am so glad it was the Tums. In fact, that is very good for the rest of us to know if we've been taking Tums. I'm hoping not many nurses would say that, though! Mine even are rather mysterious about why they are taking my blood each week. They always say, "The doctor just asked for some blood."

I love your purses on ebay now that I know your ebay name I intend to get one! I tried to bid last night, but forgot my password. They said they would email it to me, but I tried three times and no email. I may have to get my son to bid under his.

Definitely let us know how the rads go!

Dawn, I hope you will be able to shake your bacterial infection. It is very bothersome during chemo to have something like that going on. I have been slacking a little on the yogurt, but am eating some as I type!

I had to laugh about the lady in the mobile home, too. I guess I'm lucky I live alone and have no one to torment with my moods. The only part I am missing is someone to bring me meals and desires. Now wouldn't that be nice!

Nancy, Jacque, Max, Lisa, etc. , thanks for holding your breath with me over my lump. I got my stitches out yesterday and had a nice talk with my BS. She is adorable, but her concern for me is a little unsettling. However, I truly know I am in God's hands and nothing will happen to me when He is not looking! I am doing the happy dance now... for all of us getting through each difficult experience. We are like a platoon of soldiers in the bc war, working as a troop and helping each other through. I am so glad to be here with you all!

Lisa, I am so sad to hear you've been in a funk. I'm not totally surprised, though, because you seem so strong all the time and you have been dealing with a lot of brick walls and that has to get to you after a while.

I hope your weekend with your friend ends up being a good thing. Remember recently when I was so up in the air about letting my friend come when I had not had much contact with her in several years? There were some strained moments, but she did some cleaning for me and took me to a couple of places and even did my laundry. More than that, she has been contacting me regularly and sending me weekly sermons from my church at the beach as the pastor teaches through Hebrews. I have been listening to these with my son. Anyway, our friendship seems to be renewed and I am glad I let her come. So I have high hopes for you for the weekend! This might even be your ticket out of the dumps! Who knows?

Jacque, thanks for the tip on the body slimmer garmets (I bought an arm shaper... it's a bra with long sleeves, but HOT). I will have to stay away from it. I have not had a manicure since all this started, in fact, I have to get out today to purchase tea tree oil for my nails, as I had forgotten! It's very encouraging to hear this hasn't been a big deal for you. I'm like Max, I start feeling it when I have been typing too long! I do prop up my arm in bed and try to lay it over the top of my head when I watch TV. Maybe after I get it worked on for a few days and learn the exersises, it will be something easy for me, too.

Dawn, I get my first manual drainage today, so not positive, but I am assuming it will be the beginnings of massaging the fluids back up to my torso and across some bridge my LT was telling me about. Our bodies are divided into four quadrants and we are working to get this fluid over to another quadrant.

Maxie, I had Taxol #2 yesterday and I fell asleep, as usual due to the Benedryl, and woke up feeling like I was on fire! My face and hands were so hot I asked to have my temp taken! It never crossed my mind that it might be the Decadron. I still have a hot face today, but seem to be cooling off a bit.

I'm glad you found something that helps your mouth. I have noticed my mouth being very hot and burning with Taxol, espeically when I awaken in the night. I have just been treating mine with Biotene abd popsicles.

Oh yeah, my dinner with my LGFB friends went great. One of them is only 27 and has one and four year old boys. She had stage IIIA bc like me. Pour little thing... she is so beautiful, young, and vibrant. We are all going to a breast cancer relay dinner together on Tuesday night, too.
They are separating the dinner and the relay by a week this time. Anyway, I enjoy getting together with them.

Keenie, thanks for the heads up on massages. I have not had many, but I didn't know not to get one! Goodness knows I don't want to mess up my body further!
BTW, that Tamoxifen sounds like a real party drug. I was reading about vaginal atrophy on one of the boards the other day and was pretty horrified. Hot flashes and weight gain are always fun, too. Hopefully, you won't have any SE. My ex MIL just finished 5 years of it and said it was uneventful. So don't give up hope just yet!

How did rads go today? So you say you get 16 total rads? may I ask your dx? I have to get 33 rads.

Playwriter, you forgot to come back and talk to us. I hope everything is okay.

Bettye, I am unfamiliar with FEC... please tell us more about your tx and dx. I have never seen anyone get all those Taxols and then move to FEC. My thoughts and prayers are with you for God to comfort you and calm your fears.

Hope to hear from all you others who have been away a few days... we miss you.

I'm doing well so far after tx #6 (woohoo, only two more). Last time it hit me on day 3..... nice how it gives me a chance to go get my Neulasta and my therapy. It all seems to fall together and work out.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Hang in there.... we're getting to the end!

Love you, my bc sisters!

Miss S

Hi Miss S,

Just got back from my first rad.
My dx is:
Age 46
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Stage 1
Tumour Grade 2
1.5 cm
ER/PR+ HER2 Neg
4 rounds AC (done like dinner!)
16 rads - no boost

The rad session was not a big deal. The rad nurse said to wash carefully, use unscented Dove soap, pat dry, and use baby powder to keep the area dry. She also said to expose the area to the air for an hour a day. I'm thinking I'll probably do that on the drive home, since I live an hour away from the cancer center.

Just kidding . . .

BTW, I didn't see my rad onc; he must be TOO TIRED to see me!!
Christine

briefly -- went to Kansas for my niece's HS grad. got to spend a lot of time with family. i went with my DDs -- DH stayed home, as his work is being wonky about the time he's taken off to take care of me. came back thursday the 24th. flight was delayed 2 hours, so the girls and i didn't get home till 11 pm. looong day.
w/e was low key. read, rested, cleaned out the pantry a bit.
Tuesday, i felt great, got a lot of stuff done. i had a lot of energy, cracking jokes, etc. DH says, "Oh yeah, this is what you used to be like. I remember now."
Wednesday, showed up at 10:40 for my tx. Finally get in to the chemo room TWO HOURS LATER. my friend went and got us lunch. (sushi and vegetable tempura) Got home at 4 pm. looonng day.
yesterday was a record -- i went in for a neulasta shot and a visit w/onc. in and out in 40 min. unbelievable, as this is the ofc that i'm sure has "make her wait at least an hour" on my chart.
today, did a bit around the house. was DD2's 6th bday, so we went and picked out a cake, and she opened gifts tonight after a KFC dinner.

while i was at the onc, i asked for something for the hot flashes, and he prescribed Effexor, but after reading all the potential SEs, i think the cure is worse than the disease....

love and blessings to u all.

oh, rosebud, what's yr blog address?

BettyeE..I had 3 rounds of FEC and it's not that bad. I find that the Taxoere that I am now taking is worse. The se for FEC are about the same for any other chemo..hair, tongue, big c, big d, body aches. I was tired and the one thing you need to do is..drink that water! Once you flush it through your body, you'll feel much better. It will be ok and don't be scared. You can do this..trust me. Also, I ate yogurt and I did take a stool softener the week of my treatment. I never got the big c that way or the big d.

I went to the sunshine beach and all I got was three tattoo's. Bummer for me, they weren't pretty and the middle one hurt like.... I start rads on June 11th, 33 of them and this should be a walk in the park compared to chemo. The people at the rad place are super duper!

Here's the addy to my blog spot www.rosechemo.blogspot.com
There's a song on it that pretty much sums up what we are going through with this cancer. Hugs to everyone..Rosebud

Hi ladies,
Been feeling absolutely fabulous this week. I'm getting kind of bored around here and looking for somewhere to go. Unfortunately everything is a couple hours from here and I hate driving from point A to point B. Hubby was a truck driver and I've driven everywhere we go for the past 30 years. I'm at the point where I just hate getting behind the wheel. Now with his vision I have no choice. DS will be off school for 3 weeks beginning this next Thursday so am thinking of going down to the Marina for a couple of days after that. I just need to get out of this house and have some fun.

playwriter
Don't you just love the se's all these meds seem to have. I see something on TV for headaches and all the se's are achy bones, diarrhea, phemonia, and death. Think I'll suffer with the headache.......lol

I'll be away a few more days again. Weather's been great and I'm off to do some shopping and having fun.

Angel

Bettye, if you're going to houston for yr treatments, let me know. i live in houston, and we could meet for lunch or something.

Hi, cruisers --

I made plans to go out to lunch and a movie with friends today -- 2 days after treatment -- because the SE's didn't kick in after the last Taxol treatments until days 3-5. But of course this time they kicked in 2 days afterward. Nothing too bad -- i was just achy and tired, but it would have been nice to have had as much energy as I did yesterday. Still good to see everyone though.

Lisa -- I hope your weekend is turning out better than you feared and that your friend really is helpful.

rosebud: Glad to hear your rad place is so nice -- helps when you have to be there a lot! I'll be having my first visit this week and finding out how many I need.

Keenie: What a great mental picture -- you driving home from rads shirtless to get your hour of air. LOL Good grief -- I've never felt comfortable sitting around nekkid. I don't know how I'll manage that.

bettye: Holding good thoughts for you as you start this new course of treatment.

MissS, Nancy: Thanks for letting me know about your experiences with hot and/or red faces. I should have come here instead of calling Kaiser. I was down to a round cherry-size spot on each cheek today. Only one more round with the Decadron, and I'll be glad to see the last of it!

playwright: Glad you had a good trip -- if long at times -- to your niece's graduation. Great that you're getting energy back, too.

Angel: You sound wonderful; you deserve the extra energy after going through some of your SE's.

MissS, Keenie: Thanks for the descriptions of your visits to the LT. That's really interesting and good to know. Miss S, I hope you don't end up having to wear the sleeve all the time.

It's going to rain all day tomorrow, so I think I have an appointment with a good book.

Hey, Playwriter - Decadron is a steriod. Steriods reduce inflamation and helps your body not respond with allergic reactions to the chemo.
Jacque

Hi Lisa,
It must have been tough to provide your guest a little course in "Chemo 101" You sound like you handled the weekend very well - so gracious and kind.

I've had a couple of people say the most crazy things to me - like, well, this cancer thing will be tough, kinda like my kidney stone. Or the comment someone said to me right after my dx - oh, well, remember our friend Jeanette lived 15 years.

This journey has given me so many life lessons, not the least of which is how to be tactful and compassionate when speaking to others. Of course, I'm still learning . . .

Hugs to all of you - my sisters who "get" this.
Christine

MissShapen and Keenie, thanks so much for the info on your treatments with the therapist...I'm waiting for a referral as I believe that is another se I received from BC.

Rosebud...sorry that one of your tatoos was painful...when does your zapping start.

Lisa....sounds like your friend received a reality check. Sorry that you had to go through that. Here's hoping your headache goes away....5 days is a long time.....maybe you just need to lay in a dark room and sleep some. Let your onc know if you still have it....maybe they can give you something.

Hope everyone has a good week!
Nancy

Quote:

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Bettye, if you're going to houston for yr treatments, let me know. i live in houston, and we could meet for lunch or something.

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playwriter,
Boy I would love to meet you. I will be in Houston starting in Aug. sometime for rads. I will pm you later with dates and cell # I will be staying in the Rotary House.Bettye

i posted earlier, but don't know where it went.

Holly, so sorry you've been suffering. we are praying 4 u. the Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with singing, He will quiet you with His love.

Thanks you guys for the support w/my unwanted houseguest. Christine, I'm not at all sure how gracious I was with this one. He just hadn't been picking up on the gentle hints.
Bettye - good luck with your first FEC. I know you'll do fine! It's always frightening that first time, but you are an old hand at this chemo crap now! Let us know how it went.
GrammyNancy - you GO on #5! I think you are the first of us TAC girls to get this far - which means you'll be the first to finish! I did speak to my onc. about my 5+ day headache and he was not able to wave any wand and make it go away. He said that sometimes the chronic dryness in the sinus lining can contribute to this. Might want to try a sinus lavage. If it comes back after my next treatment, I amy have to learn how to do that.
HollyHopes - glad you are back with us after your hospital adventure. Hey - aren't you just about finished?!? You have had such an ordeal - I can empathize with the $$$ worries. It just makes everything else that much tougher when your finances are in a shambles and constantly stressing you. MissS gave you some good links. The Cancer Care people gave me a small one-time grant to help with my cancer-related medical costs.
NANA45 - DONE WITH CHEMO!!! Yay, you! Wow, that must be such a relief! Hope the grumpies don't come back with this last one. How much of a rest do you get before rads?

Gotta go put on my Emla cream for my port flush and blood draw this afternoon.
hugs,
Lisa