For those starting chemo in June

Hi all. Hope your stiffness subsides soon.

Paula, let us know all about the rads when you can. I think we all go through the jitters with each new procedure.

Janie, I suppose a saline mist to moisten up the sinuses would probably hurt,huh? I didn't have that particular side effect, so i'm afraid i'm no help. But I hope you find relief. Mary, hope you get relief from the muscle pain, too

Nathan's game got rained out yesterday, so we just shopped for stuff for gift bags to give out at his party. (whoever thought of that idea in the first place should be shot) today, raked a little (enough to make our yard not look like the leafiest on the street) and going to see a movie. it's like normal life! it's so weird. and soon we'll all be to that point for longer than just a couple days.

That would be an awesome visit here to our "mad town". We've had to cancel our trips too, much to hubby's dismay, but hope to visit my parents in Arkansas in between chemo and rads- sometime in November- That seems a long way off yet, but really- only 2 chemo's to go!!!
Yesterday I go most of the office cleaned up. Looks so much nicer- I hope I can keep it this nice for a bit longer than I did last time!
Still feeling good- but no taste yet
Renee

I guess I will try the Flonase this week. My ear is stopped up too. The tip of my tongue is worse than the rest. I guess my tongue feels scalded. THat is the best way to describe it. I can still taste, but some things are too hot or spicy for the tongue. Nothing is intolerable, but it's all just a big nuisance.

Three of us in the same school system were dx'ed with BC. Now another one has an abnormal mammogram. Her biopsy isn't scheduled until the 11th. She is scared to daath.

Right Mary. I would think it is in the water, but I don't drink the water over there. Of course I have had an occasional tea, coffee, or coke from one of the restaurants and they use the water to make it. We have a very small school system (about 1500 kids total). The media specialist and a 2nd grade teacher were dx'ed from the elementary school and I am in the county office. Now my scheduling secretary is awaiting a biopsy. She, like me, is at all the locations.

What did you end up making for dinner?

PJB, again --- great news!

Good morning to all of you out there!

Gotta run. It's a Blah Monday -- all Mondays are Blah Mondays (do not like Monday mornings). At least having treatment on Wednesday breaks up the work week (gotta find a silver lining somewhere). This week we have Fall break the 8th and 11th. So I only work 3 days this week and 2 next week (scheduled for a two day appointment at Mayo).

I have the weird tongue thing too. I take a teaspoon on Mylanta and coat my mouth and tongue. It helps a bit. I didnt' get the big sores this time, just the burning feeling.
My nose is so dry it's hard to breathe at night. Fortunately it doesn't bleed-yet.
Get to do some fun 'wedding shopping' with my niece today, but first need to pull out the turtlenecks and sweaters.
Renee

Mary, Renee, I know what you mean. I'm chilly here, too. It's only in the 60s! Actually, I noticed today that my poor hairless head has caused me to get a lovely freckle on top of my ear. I didn't think about putting sunscreen there!

First rads treatment went fine. Got 3 more tattoos for a total of 6. Had a CT scan again to make sure I was properly marked up. Went to the treatment room, had more finagling to make sure I was lined up and then off we went. Actual treatment took probably 3-5 minutes. Just laid on one of those all-too-skinny tables (don't move? Huh, i'm just hoping i don't fall off) and the machine kind of moves around me. Totally open. I was afraid they'd put me in something enclosed. Tomorrow the tech is gonna show me exactly where those little lasers are going ...

Take care, guys.

Good evening. I will try the mixtures for the tongue. Couldn't hurt. Chef Mary, we shall all be there for dinner on Saturday. It is 7:06 p.m. and 77 degrees here.

PJB, my oncologist saw a mole on my back he didn't like and set me up with a dermatologist. He or she scheduled me for the 14th. My labs, port, and chemo are the 13th. They try to get me on the same day for everything, but obviously it didn't work out this time.

When is the wedding?

PJB, what was the simulation like? How long did it take? Was if painful to lay there that long? I worry more about that than the actual rads.

Later Gators.

PJB, so glad it went smooth for you. I have a lumbar disc problem so laying flat isn't good for me but I will make it I guess. Janie, do you have the swish and spit med. from the onky donky? You come on over and we will eat then have a contest to see who can get up first. I sit for 5 mins. and I can't get moving my bones feel 150 years old.. My daughter in Az. sent me a beautiful ring for making it through chemo. It matched a braclet my husband got me a few years ago. My oldest dau. got me flowers. my son called and congragulated me and he'll send me flowers like a month from now. He works a lot of overtime and he gets things done but later than expected. I hate my kids spending money on me when they could use it.Sometimes I type my board and it just is gone and I have to start again then I forget what I want to say. Its almost 9:00 and I have to go to work. I usually go in at 8 but oh well. You girls stay warm. Hugs to all, Mary

Does the simulation take longer, the more areas you have radiated? Common sense tells me it would as I write the question. I will be radiated at the tumor site, under the arm and in the chest area. One of the positive nodes removed was wrapped around the supravenacava (spelled it like it sounds). How many areas do you have to do? I see you got a lot of rads responses now. That's good to have a whole bunch to share and learn.

Hi Girls, Well I am keeping track of how long it takes for the tiredness to set in as I will be 2 1/2 wks. into rads when I go to Az. Nov. 5 so I want to make sure I don't get too tired. Heck I am still getting wore out from the chemo. My legs were better this a.m. but the tired muscle feeling is back this afternoon. My lower back was hurting all night. I wonder if age has a lot to do with it and the chemo.Maybe the older you are the longer you hurt. I know colds get me down more now than when I was younger.I get one a year usually around Thanksgiving and I am down 1 maybe two days and thats about the extent of my illiness for the year but I feel terrible for a week or so. Glad your doing good PJB.Well I have to go to Wally, if my legs don't give out on me. I see people look at me when they think I can't see and I want to shout BREAST CANCER O.K? I thought about getting a shirt printed on the back "The cancer was in my breast, please don't stare at them like you are me right now." Oh well, Most people don't reconize me without my hair. That makes me feel good. And people when they talk to you and find out you have cancer they always had a relative that died of cancer. It may not have been breast cancer but they will tell ya all about it and how they had it in the bone and how painful that was like excuse me where do they think breast cancer goes? There is no such thing as bone cancer starting in the bone. Bone cancer comes from other cancers but I listen like I am stupid and go on.There was the one who's father had prostate cancer and it went to the bone. I said boy, I hope mine doesn't go there. No she said he had cancer bad. Oh I said well I don't have it bad so I guess I am o.k.The things you hear.... Later Girls Glad our pioneer PJB is getting along so good. Mary

Mary, I know just what you're talking about. One of the reasons I don't wear the yellow bracelet myself is that I don't want to have people asking me about cancer. I try to keep it under my hat, er, wig, so to speak.
Of course, I found out about a billion people in my office know. I mean, the folks on my floor know, of course, because I've either told them or they noticed that my hair (wig) keeps changing and they probably figured out it;s not my real hair by now... But people in other parts of the building who I've met maybe a few times have donated money in my name for the Relay for Life. It's weird.

I haven't had anyone really spin me any long cancer stories because for the most part I avoid people. The times I've gone bald just with a ball cap to the store, I've noticed some stares. Unfortunately, it hasn't earned me any pity discounts at Target.

You guys have a good one. Janie, Renee, how we feeling?

Hi girls, Well I do wear my ball cap and do-rag when I go out but my eyes look so bare. I am waiting on my brows and lashes to grow back, nothing but a few stubs. Then I can wear my new wig. I think I will wear it Sat. to the soccer games if I can get my brows painted on. It takes me forever to paint on brows and liner then I am affraid I will get an itch and scratch half my brow off and look like a dork. I am at work this a.m. I had a lot of pain in my hip lastnight. It wakes me up but I have had this pain before just not this bad so I think chemo has stirred it up.You are just chugging right along with the rads.PJB, What kind of b-day party are you going to have for Nathan? Well better go later girls.

Hi Girls, I hope Renee, you and Tom have a great meal. I still don't have a lot of taste but checked out my tongue and I have white patches so guess I have a little yeast. I was using my swish and spit once or twice a day as I forget until I try to eat. Well I am going to use it every 4 hours as directed and maybe it will help. I wear my bracelet in memory of my mom's brave battle. I see Katie Couric wearing hers. I don't know if anyone in my town has one and they probably don't know what they are. We are so backward here.I saw them on the today show and knew I wouldn't get one around here so I was glad PJB was so nice to send me one. People around here probably think its a poney tail holder and wonder why the he#l I have one on my wrist with no hair. I am packing for Phoenix already. I had a sweater that I loved and I got it last year and I can't find it anywhere. I am a little huffy.Now I have to drag all the summer stuff out so I can see if I left it in a plastic bin. I will tear this house apart looking for it cause its here somewhere. I have to get back to work so see yas later, Mary

Mary, when do you leave for Arizona? I bet it can't be too soon for you, huh? I wonder will the warmer weather help the pain?

Just a rads report. I swear I won't bore you with them daily. I had them show me where is being irradiated today. I guess I thought they'd be more laserlike in their precision and just be doing the three sites - tumor, nodes and supraclavicle or whatever those ones are called by the collar bone. nope, it's basically from sternum to under my arm about halfway to my back, and from a couple inches under my breast to my collarbone. i guess that'll take care of any stray suckers. and it tells me where exactly to put the lotion or whatever. The rads tech recommended aquaphor (which i actually bought some of yesterday and didn't really like; it's very vaseline-like, but she says it works great) and/or aloe vera.

Here's the unpleasant thing that happened today: The way they have it set up is they have two dressing rooms just off a little alcove near the treatment room with doors just opposite each other. So, I'm sitting in my dressing room minding my own business while I wait a couple minutes for my tx (I was early again). Here comes this old gentleman apparently coming from tx for prostate or something walking into the dressing room opposite. BUT HE DIDN'T CLOSE HIS GOWN in the back, so as I glanced over to see what that movement was in the hallway, I got treated to quite a show. Luckily, he had a shirt on, just wasn't quite long enough for my liking. Poor guy, I'm sure he'd be horrified if he knew.

Later, you guys.