Starting Chemo in May 07

Hi all,
Been a few days for me. I've been trying to transfer files from my old computer to my laptop and it didn't work. They were linked for 2 days and hadnt changed yet so I figured I'd unhook them and get online tonight. My neighbor is my computer guru so he will do the transfer this weekend.
I'm having a little bit of a hard time this week. With treatment 2 I ended up with thrush in my mouth and I got it again this time but I'm taking meds and yesterday I got a sore throat the was very painful. Called my onc's office and the nurse said strep is going around. I dont have a fever or anything other than a sore throat so I went to a primary doc tonight and he said it wasnt strep which is good. He gave me a script just in case it doesnt start feeling better in a couple of days. I'm using cloraseeptic losenges to numb it and they seem to be helping. My biggest problem is lack of sleep. Even taking bynadril (SP) I can't sleep at night.

I'll be finished with summer school on Friday which is good because I'm moving on Sunday. I'm trying to go through stuff and pack but I have no energy, and always an excuse LOL its hot, I'm tired, etc. My mom and I did clean out the boxes from the shed and moved them to my new house and I have cleaned out some of the cabinets in the kitchen. I have to go through everything with my 19 year old because he is staying at the trailer where we live now and will need some items. It's a very confusing thing to do especially while going through chemo. I don't recommend it to anyone, but sometimes you gotta do things you dont really want to do.
I'm hoping I have a good 4th, I have treatment on the 2nd and my daughter comes to visit for a month on the 3rd. Man am I gonna be busy. She is very supportive of whats going on but hasn't been here so hopefully she is patient with me. She's 15 and boy crazy. I can't waite to have her here.
OK I feel like I'm rambling. I need to try and get some sleep.
I'm so glad most of you are feeling better and send hugs to you and great big HUGS to all who are still having side effects.

{{{{HUGS}}}}}}
CindyKS

Hi Girls! It's been a week since A/C #3, and though the nausea, bloating is settling, the eye & nasal tears (duct problem) started up again today. That stopped the day before my recent treatment, and I was so glad and hoped it was over....shucks! Now the tears are streaming again.

It's interesting, the connection between infertility and bc. It took me 7 years, two losses (the first at 5 mos of preg), and pergonal, etc. to finally give birth. Of course, if I had it to do over again, I would not have changed anything (even though mine is 18, giving me a run for my money as well as giving me love). My sister also had infertility problems and bc. Fortunately, last week I got the news I was BRCA negative! But I wonder about hidden genes since my mom had ovarian C at age 70 and bc at 73.

On another topic, I ordered two sets of bangs, a monk hair piece, and a bathing cap. I so anticipated ditching the faky wig when these arrived; but when I put them all on, I felt so phony and freeky looking. So bummed and bald at the moment!

On a positive note, there are 2 sayings that have helped me in the past:

1. "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger". Note all the strong women around that survived breast cancer. Living proof!

2. "This too shall pass". And PASS it will, and we will have many, many great days. And we will be like my sister who says she doesn't remember having side effects. Her hubby remembers them though.

Peace, comfort and strength to all!

Mar

P.S. As for the question about the stubbles, at first the hard stubbles hurt and hurt. Now I have soft stubbles...more like fuzz that does not hurt. I feel like a chicken....but not a spring chicken :-(

Hey girls,

Pat, glad to hear from you. Sorry you're so tired. I can relate. Just rest, girl, it's OK. At least while you're asleep you can feel better, maybe?

Mar, infertility is hard, isn't it? We have two gorgeous babes from Russia, and I'm so grateful. They're the BEST. Nobody else in my family has struggled with bc or infertility, though. I'd like to have that soft stubble you're talking about! I shave mine every few days now--it feels much better that way.

Mandy, good for you for playing volleyball, even without a buff!! Did you wear anything or go bald? I'm in awe of your ability to do so much during chemo. Wow, that is AWESOME.

I'm still dishragging it over here. Can't remember if I said I got the pump off yesterday. I couldn't take it any more--HAD to have a bath. So now I'm paying for it with more nausea, but I'm trying to just veg today and take compazine and ativan and get through. I'm not going to throw up or anything, I just feel gross. Still not hungry. Positives? my kids are at a friend's house and I'm sure they're having a blast today. I have AMAZING friends helping me with everything. My hubby has learned the art of not pointing out the positive to me but just holding my hand and telling me I'm doing a good job. I love him.

Love to all of you,

Amy

HOORAY, SARAH!!!!! I'm rejoicing with you!! This time you know that when you start to feel better, you don't have to go back for MORE!! Awesome!!

Amy

O no,,,,,,,,,,,for me..........Liz I am an oldie and I have been thru menopause already...........but I can relate to hot flashes and all,,,,,,cause I still get them. I would have thought after going thru menopause like 8 years ago,,,,,,,the hot flashes would have stopped,,,,,,,,,,guessssssssss nottttttttttttttttt. lol
They actually do seem to be less since I have been on chemo,,,,,,weird huh? Cause the dr said they would get worse. Anyone else out there with fluid retention, besides Liz?
Enjoy your week gals,,,,,,,Cindy
And good for you Sarah,,,,,,,we are jealous,,,,,,we want to be done tooooooooooooooo. Boo Hoo lol

Holy Crapola 5 Dexamethazones????? They don't call it dex-a-METH for nothing. Heck, even on one I find myself doing bizarre things like polishing 10 year old silver earrings just because. You might find yourself detailing the house with a toothbrush tonight! Good luck with the Taxol. I'll be anxiously awaiting your report as I follow you next week. I know my docs give lots of Benedryl with it, beyond that I have no idea.

Tomorrow is my last A/C and I keep crying thinking about having to do it AGAIN, even though it is my last one. I can feel myself getting more and more worn out each round and I hate to think of what the next 2 weeks hold. HOWEVER, Portland's fabulous Blues Fest starts 4th of July and I WILL be there, even if I have to rent a darn wheelchair. It's my favorite festival of the year and no stupid side effects can keep me home.

Anybody else have a rash on their legs? LOL - it's always something with me.

Hugs,
LeeAnne

Congratulations SARAH wish I was with you on being done.

My sore throat is gone but now its itchy and my nose is running and I think I have a summer cold. Joy just what I need during chemo. Hopefully I feel better by Monday when I get treatment again.
I have my bloodwork tomorrow so am wondering what my WBC will be since I have the cold.
Mom is coming tomorrow to help me pack up my kitchen stuff. We have to sort through and decide what to leave for my son. He really wont need much but dont want him to have to go buy stuff. Will leave him a pie pan so he can make a pecan pie for Thanksgiving. LOL he's 19 but makes the best pecan pies.
Well I'm tired so am going to try and sleep.
Positives: My daughter is coming in 5 days and I'm really excited. I haven't seen her for almost 2 years.

Nite all,
CindyKS

Hi. I will have to take 5 decadron the night before and 5 the morning of my first Taxol trestment, too. I have heard that it is to handle any possible reactions. Don't know for sure, though.

Pat

Hey everyone. For the record, I'm not completely done with chemo yet. Since I had a new mass of IDC pop up while I was on chemo, they decided to do rads in between A/C and Taxol.

So once I finish rads, I'll be going back for Taxol weekly for 12 weeks, and Herceptin weekly for a year. But from everything I've heard, A/C is by far the worst chemo, so at least that's behind me.

Take care, everyone.

sarah

AAAHHHHHHH I have a head cold. It's driving me crazy. Went for bloodwork today so am wondering about my counts. Oncs office hasnt called me or anything yet. The sore throat is gone which is good but now my nose is getting sore from all the blowing. YUCK, I have too much to do to be sick.
Amy: I'm glad you are feeling better this time and no er is a big plus.
Everyone else just keep on hanging on. The light gets a little brighter at the end of the big Chemo tunnel each day, and even closer with each treatment.
Well need to go pack some more stuff in the kitchen.
Have a great evening all,
CindyKS

CindyKS: I just got over a head cold too, but my blood counts never went down as far as I know. I have CBC every Wednesday. It definitely isn't fun being sick on top of chemo. I was afraid to go to the gym. ANd it seemed to take me twice as long to recover as normal.

HOpe you feel better soon.

AmyaM, I'll be curious to hear how you do on the taxol. I'll be on that after my last A/C in two weeks.

Hope everyone has a good evening.

I have problems with my port sometimes not wanting to work for withdrawals. The nurse said it can be a positional problem. Like the tube is too close to the vessel wall so it's acting like a vacuum cleaner with the drapes. So they have me hold my arms up or twist around to get the tube in a better place for sucking. It always flushes fine for input. It's just the withdrawals that are tricky.

Good for you Amy. Enjoy!

Heck, Mary, I had chemo this morning and they couldn't get a withdrawal from my port no matter how I twisted and turned. So they had to draw my blood from my arm.

Hi all,

Been kind of busy, but wish I was more "in the loop" here. I finish on (or about) Sep 5th as well. I did ok on A/C. Have lots to tell but on the other hand only one thing to tell - my beautiful, wonderful, 16-yr-old son (who cut all his long hair to suppport me through chemo) has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. We don't think it is malignant but it is large and needs to come out. I have an appointment with a top neurosurgeon on July 18th for him and am getting other stuff lined up.

Meanwhile, we need as many prayers as possible. I don't even know what else to say at this point.

Sheree in Florida needs hugs and prayers