Starting Chemo in May 07

You're on TCH every 3 weeks, right? I have had the same problem with tastes. Gatorade over crushed ice (the frost flavors seem best) seems to help for me.....Good luck...

Katymom

I only took steroids one day after my treatment but the heartburn kept going. I think for me it was what I was eating more than anything. I ate a lot of stuff that I don't normally eat because my normal food started tasting weird. I'll try one of the heartburn meds if I have this problem with next treatment. Thanks.

Hi everyone,

I go for tx #3 in a couple of hours and I am having a bad day emotionally. I am crying a lot and feel so grief stricken today and clearly don't want to have this chemo...sigh. I am home alone and am mad that I don't have friends and family rallying around me helping me to feel better when I have made it clear to them that I'm doing just fine and don't want to be fussed over! How can they possibly win?

I was feeling okay until I went to the cancer centre yesterday to have all my blood work done and just walking into the building, I got all shakey and felt really krappy (almost a mild anxiety attack). So much for doing great emotionally!

When I have run long distance races in the past, I remember that the half way point was one of the toughest for me because I'd usually feel tired and think I'm only half way done? - how can I possibly keep this up for that much longer? But I'd keep plugging or sometimes take a walk break or have a gel or whatever - the point is I'd keep going and that second half wasn't as bad as the first half and before you know it, I was smiling at the finish line. Today, this treatment puts me (theoretically) at the 21k mark of the (virtual) marathon I am running that is chemo. (Each treatment represents a 7km run totalling 42 kms - which is a marathon distance...so after today, I've done 21kms)

Well, there, I've given myself a little pep talk. Maybe it's time to post some positives rather than whine...

1. After today I will be half finished and I still have my eyebrows and lashes - and doc thinks I'll keep them the whole time!

2. I am signed up for the Look Good, Feel Better class next Tuesday - yeah free cosmetics and the possibility that they may show me something that will make me feel pretty (even for a second) because is certainly do not! I am hopeful!

3. My daughter's soccer team is in first place - so hopefully they'll make the provincial championships.

4. This board and the people on it - because I do my best venting here as you are the only people who seem to be able to handle it! Thanks for always being here.

Wish me luck everyone and good luck to all the rest going for treatment this week (and suffering through SE's and to those of you feeling great!)

Take care,
Mandy

Mandy, Way to turn it around! I love your marathon metaphor! It does feel like a marathon even though I'm still in the first 10K. I always hated 10Ks--too fast. I know how you feel about the friends and family. Sometimes you just want everything to be normal and sometimes you do want to be fussed over just a little. I am driving myself to chemo tomorrow because I just want to enjoy the time to read and/or space out.

I hope you feel better and get through this next cycle ok. I'm going for #2 tomorrow and wish I had a few more days of feeling good. I haven't run in a week because I've been trying to finish up end of quarter papers for school (my last quarter!) and today I just want to relax and enjoy feeling good.

Hey Mandy,
Went for my #3 yesterday and did the same when I came to the door I almost vomit right there.If I could run the 10k yesterday instead going there I'd race out of there in a bullet.

I told my husband that I would give anything for getting out of there,and I would be doing a big sacrefice because my little sister has been called for a second mammogram and a ultasound only 3 month after me so for me it's a big thing.
The one I was still sick from 7;30pm til 11;30pm they give me zofran before and after plus more liquid the chemo and they said it was going to do the trick this time but no way my stomach don't like this crap.
Today I feel good no nausea and I'm strait.Taking those pills for 4 days and giving me heatburn and costipation again but this time taking senokot S and they gave me something for heatburn.
I still have my lashes and eyebrows that's a plus, because we're going at the Relais for Life on Friday so won't be so a cancer patient.
So Mandy do like me go out and see people, sisters and brothers and freinds the day before it's help until you get to the door.
Wishing you luck and hope on your #3 have faith we're almost there we are halfway... and kicking cancer butt...

And for all you gals going this week wishing you luck too we will fight this through and we will be the same as we were before this and more.....

Take care,
Nadine

Hi all,
So much good advice. I have my third A/C treatment tomorrow. I have also had a few emotional breakdowns - tears will just come mostly thinking about how much people care. Last weekend my boyfriend completely shaved my head, the little bit I had was falling out pretty quickly. haven't had to shave my underarms for a week now - one nice advantage. Shower time it getting pretty quick
Positives this week:
My son got engaged! yeah.
The weather is beautiful.
my boyfriend is so amazing - we have been dating for 2 years and he has been so supportive. so caring.

Hugs to all,

Hey girls,

Mandy, I'm so with you on tx #3. More on that later.

Went for a cbc today, and the Neulasta is doing its job--yay. My neutrophils were in range, and last time they were WAY too low. Finally, something worked on me!

BUT, my onc wasn't there today. I had thought I was having an appointment with him, but turned out they only had me scheduled for a cbc, and he wasn't even in town today. I was so bummed, because I really wanted to talk through how awful tx 2 was, and what we're going to do about it for next time. I guess it will have to wait until I see him the day of chemo, although I'm considering writing him an email. He's such an awesome doctor, and always responds to my emails. He actually never gives out his email address to patients usually, but I'm a friend of a friend of his, so I guess he's been going the extra mile for me.

So as tx 3 draws near, I'm so scared. It's hard not to be when the 1st 2 have been so awful. I know they're going to be trying different things with me (AGAIN) but I just feel like such an experiment. "Let's try THIS and see if she ends up in the ER this time!" Yep, she did! I feel like it's going to almost be hard to not sabotage it no matter what they do--I'm so ready to throw up I may throw up regardless. I don't want it to be that way, and I'm trying to just let it all happen and see how it turns out, but it's hard.

Anyway, that's my latest. Otherwise I actually feel pretty good right now. I have my appetite back, and I have a good amount of energy too. So I'm going to try to enjoy the next 8 days for all they're worth!

Amy

Sarah I put you on our prayer chain - I have some awesome prayer warriors praying for me and I believe it is truely helping. I have to have herceptin too, the nurse told me that does not give side effects like this A/C and Taxol. Hang in there girl!
Had my third tx today and so far so good, we will see how then next few days go.

Oh Sarah, I'm really sorry. Hang in there, and let yourself cry and yell at God. He can take it, and it won't change how much He loves you.

Praying for you,

Amy

Hey all,

My fabulous onc emailed me back! He said he wants to try the anti-emetic pump from the very beginning of my next treatment, plus Marinol and IV fluids in the office in the days following treatment. If all that doesn't work, then I'll have the rest of my treatments inpatient. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

The best thing he said was just confirming that I'm having an extra-tough time and that's it's NOT MY FAULT. It was so nice to hear that, esp. after one of the other oncs in the office asked me if I was an anxious person. That was the day after my 2nd treatment, after I had spent the night in the ER because I couldn't stop throwing up. Umm, no, I'm not an anxious person. And how exactly would that change your treatment of me even I said I were? Needless to say, I'm glad I have MY onc and not the other one! And I'm glad mine is back in town.

Amy

Hi, everyone. I just wanted to check-in since it has been awhile. I am doing pretty well, but so tired. I'm planning on going shopping today to get something to wear to my sister's wedding on the 30th.

Pat

Good luck today AmyaM, last A/C woohoo! I have #3 today and I'm REALLY trying not be anxious about it. Last time there wasn't enough food in my stomach (infusion room was running late so it was hours between getting there and getting the treatment) and I haven't been able to forget what that felt like. I'll be eating a lot and taking a lot of food with me as well.

My eyes are so watery and puffy. I thought watery eyes were a s.e. of Taxol, but I guess the Cytoxan can do that as well. I'm going to ask about it today. I'm also going to ask about Marinol to see if that will ease my sore stomach.

Sunshine, you are in my prayers!

Aimster, I'm a bit envious you are every 3 weeks... I just started feeling relatively good 2 days ago and BOOM here I go again.

Positives: Weather forecast calls for mid-70s which is perfect for 5 minute noggin-tanning sessions...

Off to the grocery store to set in supplies (including wine) for my caregivers (my parents). Have to keep 'em happy!

Hugs to all!
LeeAnne

hey girls,,,,,,,,,,,,
Sarah,,,,,,,,I am so sorry about the margins,,,,,,,you will be in my thoughts. You are so young and you have a great spirit,,,,,,,so you keep positive ok?

Well,,,,,,,,,,,,yesterday, which was 9 days from my 2nd treeatment,,,,,I finally started feeling good. Man, I thought that day was never gonna come or when it did it would come right before number 3 treatment. lol So nice to see I will have one good week before the next treatment. On the days I feel good,,,,,,,I wish I could remember how that feels on the days I feel bad. Does that make sense? Well it did to me. lol
Had lab work done yesterday,,,,,,guess my platelets are very low so have to go back tomorrow to have a repeat CBC. Guess if it is still low they might have to reduce the dose on the carboplatin. Whatever they have to do is fine with me. Looking forward to June 25,,,,,then I will be halfway there. I gotta look at some positive here. lol
Got a presc for that Magic Mouthwash,,,,,so hopefully that will help the mouth thing going on.
Have a good weekend all,,,,,,,,,and lets all do something fun for ourselves, We deserve it. Right?
Cindy

My first day wearing a scarf went well. Nobody looked at me funny or even commented on it. Everyone around me knows about my cancer and that i am loosing my hair. The kids at school asked if I had finally given in and shaved my head. I told them I took it down to an inch. Probably this weekend I'll shave it the rest of the way but I wanted to waite until both my boys could be there. With their work schedules weekends are the only time we can all be together.
Here is a link to the Burning Man web site if anyone is interested in sending their hair or wants more info. www.crowningGlory.org it sounds like an awsome thing and I wish I could be there. I'm going to send my hair, both bags the one that came out before I cut it and the one from when I cut it.
My son had a good birthday, we went out to eat and then grocery shopping (he was enthused by that, LOL) we are going to do cake and ice cream on Saturday.
Well off to get some sleep, I have one more day of school and then I have to work Friday night. Glad I'm feeling good and can work. I just hope after my next treatment that I feel good in a couple of days as I want to move the following weekend. I know I must be crazy to move during chemo but we have to do what we have to do.
Hugs to everyone getting treatment tomorrow or who have just had treatment,
CindyKS

Yesterday the phone rang while I was upstairs napping. I jumped up, grabbed my shoes, hat, and sweater, and hurried down the stairs in my socks. I wasn't holding the railing because my hands were full.

Before I even knew what was happening, I was on my bottom and back banging down the steps. I'm not seriosuly hurt, but I sure am sore. Plus I have to miss two social events on a "good day." So I feel like I stupidly robbed myself of some good time.

Pat