The Chemosabe March Cruise

Is anyone tired of this cruise yet? I am so tired of cancer that sometimes I can't even see straight. I just have to keep telling myself that the light at the end of the tunnel is not a train. God is walking, pulling, pushing, carrying us through this battle. WE WILL PREVAIL!!!!!!!!

I have my TAC #5 in a week (6/13). I will have my last one the week of July 4th. Talk about independence day!!

My plastic surgeon told me today that we need to accelerate my expander fills to make sure I get done before radiation starts. Now I have to get serious about what size I want my new boobs to be. One more decision to make. I guess I should be happy that I get any choices in this whole thing.

I have not been posting much but I have read each and every post and I want to let everyone know that I am prayin for you all - for no side effects, for good health, for happiness, for peace.

Updated Bar Reservations June 4 - 8

Monday: Nana45 (last one....Hip hip Hooray!!!}

Tuesday: Bettye (#1 FEC), GrammyNancy (#5)

Wednesday: Angel (#5), LisaSDCA (#5)

Thursady:

Friday:

Smooth sailing!

Hello, everyone - It's been awhile since I have posted, because #4 of A/C was a tough one for me. I just started feeling better a couple of days ago, and now it's time for my first treatment of Taxotere tomorrow. Holly, it's good to hear from you and I echo everyone else's sentiments to you - I wish we were located in the same area so that we could all help each other through these darker days. It seems that most of us are feeling the accumulating effects of these treatments.
I'm taking Benadryl and Dexamethasone tonight and tomorrow before my first taxotere ( of 4 .) Then, it will be on to rads. I'm hoping that this will be easier than the red devil and cytoxin!

So, girls - I will see you at the bar tomorrow, Wed. June 6!

Best wishes to everyone,

Marsha

cute purses, rosebud! love the pink one!

GrammyNancy
I was in the hospital for 12 days! I had a viral infection.
I had no mouth sores with my 3 tx of FEC but the toxotere floored me. I have never experienced such bone pain. The mouth sores got so bad I could not eat. So I called the chemo clinic and they said come in to see them. They said my mouth was so bad and I had a fever I didn't even know I had. So 12 days later I am home. Yes there is not place like home and thank you for your kind words.
The only good thing out of it is I lost 10 pounds. lol
melissa

I didn't get home until 2pm from tx#5 - even after showing up just after 8am. grrrr. I feel like I have had an intimate encounter with a Mack truck - and one just in off a trans-con; all muddy, buggy and diesel-spewed.

Fortunately, about 45 minutes later a "knock came on the door"
Another beautifully done, cheerful BIG basket from my dear sister, chockfull of local fruits and GINORMOUS muffins. I'll have to freeze most of those to keep 'em nice and fresh - each looks adequate for two meals. They even included my favorites - Granny Smith apples. And there are huge bananas, seedless grapes, fat oranges, etc.

It's always nice to be remembered on 'the day', even though, being a partner in her busy law firm and working 70 hr. weeks, she doesn't get a chance to call or check in as often as we'd both like.

whitecotton - I am so glad you are back after your harrowing hospital stay! Besides the Biotene rinse (before the mouth sores happen - if they happen it can sting a bit) I now swear by daily Kefir for the health of my whole GI tract - beginning with lips. Lifeway makes one that is pretty easy to find, quite palatble, and an easy way to get an effortless chunk of protien in anytime.

Lisa

Rosebud
I did not get mouth sores with FEC but now I have so many, they also called them mouth ulcers. yuk they hurt! I am so sorry about your bone pain this really sucks we have to have 2 more times. I am so looking forward to the last one! thanks for the hug I needed it.
Lisa
Lucky you for the wonderful basket enjoy it because you deserve it! We don't have biotene in Canada boo hoo. What's kefir

Oh, Melissa - so sorry to hear about your hospital stay but glad that you are home now. I had a really bad mouth sore during my A/C treatments, and now that I started Taxotere, I was kinda hoping that it wouldn't be an issue. Oh, well. I had my first one of these treatments today, and came home already feeling very queasy, and then got a terrible back ache. Was it like that for you? How many more do you have to go?

Besides me and Melissa, is anyone else getting Taxotere?

Marsha

Marsha, there are several of us who have been getting Taxotere all along - as part Of TAC x 6.
My oncologist says the most common and most profound side effect he's seen over the years is FATIGUE.
I can say a"AMEN" to that. It's only the damned decadron that's got me up this late after my infusion. I barely napped last night, too.

Lisa

Go for my markings for rads on June 21st about 2 1/2 week break. Am going to ask for off over July 4 to go to see our daugther. I have been in some sort of treatment of surgery situation since January and need a break.

Hi, cruisers --

I had my first visit with the radiation oncologist yesterday -- I really liked her -- and will go for markings June 22. They might do a second set of markings to take special care to avoid my heart as much as possible. Unlike my first onc, the rad onc was extremely surprised by the drop in my MUGGA fractions. I have to go for 7 weeks -- 35 treatments.

Holly: It's terrible that you're so far away when we'd love to run in and check on you. Can you make yourself put the worries you can't do anything about right now on hold? Write them down and promise yourself that you'll wait to think about them until you have the strength. Everything is going to look more hopeless when you're feeling so sick, weak and tired.

Just FYI, the Y-Me National BC Org has a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-221-2141. I called them for information when I was anxious during the diagnosis period.

From their website:

"When you call the Y-ME Hotline, you can request to be paired with a peer counselor who had the same diagnosis, is the same age or has experienced similar challenges as you. The confidential, free-of-charge service is available to anyone who calls the Hotline."


whitecotton: I'm so sorry you had to deal with that infection. You'd think in cases like yours that they would make an exception with the Neulasta -- it's expensive, but it's cheaper than hospitalization. That was so sad about your roommates, but I also wonder if anyone thought about the wisdom of putting someone being treated for bc with two terminal people.

marshabel: I don't know about the back pain, but the taxanes can make you nauseated even though they aren't as bad as the other combos. I had a couple of bouts of queasiness after my last Taxol treatment, but I could control it with crackers. Maybe you need a little extra something in the drip for your stomach.

pmarsh: Good to see you posting. I totally agree -- I'm so sick of living with and thinking about cancer 24/7. It's like having an obnoxious tune in your head you can't get rid of -- except tunes don't scare you to death in the middle of the night.


Bettye: How are you doing after your first FEC?

MissS: I'm noticing the double whammy with Neulasta and Taxol, too. I never had any problems with Neulasta while on AC, but I was describing my aches and pains to the onc this last time, and he said some of them were the Neulasta. Hmmph!

rosebud: Sorry you're getting hit so hard by the Neulasta and the tx. So close to the end!!

playwright: I never said Happy Birthday to your DD -- glad she enjoyed her KFC party.

Lisa: Sounds like you did everything right for your weekend guest. Nice that he had such a need to see TV!

I hope you don't have a repeat of the headache -- I wonder if like some other se's it could be an allergic reaction.

Props to your sister for that wonderful muffin basket.

Good to see you MisK. I'm still having some neuropathy, especially from being on the computer, but I think the L-glutamine has really helped. It's much milder than it was.

Nancy: I know what you mean about dreading a treatment going in. Sometimes I've been nauseated even before anything started! Congrats on hitting the 5/6 mark. I must admit I've been jealous of those of you who are hormone-positive, but I can see where facing more years of medication would just drag you down sometimes.

Keenie It's a pain that some people just don't get it. My boss's eyes literally lit up when I told him my last chemo was 6/14. I need to bring in some literature about the lingering effects of chemo, and the fatigue associated with radiation before he starts sending me on long business trips. Sheesh!

Nana45 -- Sounds like we're on a similar schedule. I'm also hoping to start rads the week after the 4th. No special plans - I just want a break!

Playwriter..My Onc refereed me but this was all set up before I started chemo. I believe my surgeon did it all but I'm not sure. I saw my rad lady the day after my first visit with my onc. I'd ask your onc about it.

Kennie..I won't start Tamoxifen till after chemo is done since I am doing chemo and rads at the same time. But, I think the onc. told me I would start that after rads..

I was just thinking of Taurie...do we need to get the life boat out yet? Hugs to all..rosebud

This was all set up by the surgeon, my initial consultation appt with the radiation oncologist and the consultation with the medical oncologist, and at that point after chemo the medical oncologist office called radiation to say I was done and set up the appt for the markings.

I am still alive....barely. I had TAXOL x 12 with hardly any SE. But boy, FEC is a different animal. I had a killer headache for 2 days and nausea. Then the neulasta shot and bone pain. I still have dull headache. I'm with the rest of you I hate chemo, I hate cancer, I hate Dr.'s. I am just so tired. I don't know if I can do 3 more FEC.
Bettye

Oh Bettye - absolutely you can do it with God's help.

The day I was dx, this verse was in my devotion for the day:

I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved - Psalm 16:8

This was such a comfort to me because my tumor was in my right breast and I'm right handed. The Lord gives you what you need and I'm going to pray that you get the strength you need to see this part of the journey through.

Christine