I am starting chemo in July 07. Anyone else?

Well, I spoke too soon.

Friday and Saturday were not good days for me. Last night especially did me in.... I did not sleep at all. Up all night staring at the clock and rolling around.

I'm still dealing with the "no appetite" thing and light headed from not eating much in the last 2 days.

This sucks!

I agree. Some days just suck. I had chemo Thursday and I too was feeling not bad. This was followed by two bad nights of sleeping (sleep for 1 hr. then up for 5, sleep 2 more, etc.)Not a great night. I did take a nap the next day, but I think that screwed up my next night. Overall, I think I did better with the nausea, but I have zero appetite. I have to force myself to eat to avoid weight loss. Today (Sunday) was a little better and I'm glad I also slept better last night.(5 hrs. straight!) I'm just happy to be through 50% of the AC. I can't believe I got my period today. What's with that?

Jean so glad you got your meds!

Jane

Jean,
You are fortunate to have a husband who will wend his way through the insurance maze. When you feel ill, fighting with insurance companies is the last thing you need to do. I'm so glad that finally got them. I take emend and decadron. My oncologist's office warned me that the insurance company may give me a hard time and if that happened to call them immediately. Thankfully, they filled it first time, no problem.
Don't let these little things wear you down. Keep strong and calm. My best to you. Rose

Starting to be "back among the living" today. I slept really well last night and actually feel almost like myself today.

Only one AC to go! Then I start the once-a-week Taxol which really worries me... I don't want to lose 3-4 days every week.. They tell me it'll be much easier - I certainly hope so.

Just trying to hang in there until December when this is all over (well, except for the rads, which I expect will be a walk in the park compared to chemo).

I don't take any other drugs but the Compazine (well, an occasional Xanax when I get nuts), but they do put a bunch of stuff in me by IV (all in all about $2600 worth of stuff by the insurance bills). So I don't know what that's all about.

Stay strong, everyone!

Hello everyone! I haven't checked in lately - I tried to last week but for some reason my computer wouldn't allow it!
Last week was my off week. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the off week. Feel 100% like my pre-chemo self! Didn't get any running in because it was too darn hot. Did do some walking with my friend. But I've got to get back into exercising regularly. I'm going to make myself do something tonight.
Spent the weekend in northern Ontario, where my mother comes from. It was my aunt & uncle's 50th anniversary so we had a reunion of sorts. Drove my parents....it was a looong ride! My mother is rather high strung, you see.....poor husband was very patient, though! Anyway, it was great to see relatives I haven't seen in years. All had such wonderful, positive, supportive things to say. Some didn't realize I was wearing a wig. One cousin even asked why my hair hadn't started falling out. Nice to know my free wig looks so real! I loved that they treated me like my regular old self instead of like a cancer patient. Other than being stuck in traffic at the border crossing for nearly 2 hours (new homeland security rules), it was a great weekend!!

Well, AC #3 was this morning. So far, so good. But I usually don't start to feel bad until the evening of day 3. I hope that holds, because tomorrow I have another job interview!!! It's the second round for the dream job I interviewed for last week. I really want this job!!

It makes me sad that some insurance companies give people a hard time about scripts. Especially the Emend. It works so well, and it makes me mad that insurance would deny it since it costs so much! My onc has samples on hand. I know this because I dropped my first one on the floor at tx #1, so they gave me one from their stash. BTW- the chemo nurses don't let me take mine until after they run my blood work, in case they can't give me a tx that day. So I'm taking it only 30 min. or so before they start running the A.
Glad to be 75% done with the AC! But then there's the Taxol, which I will also get x12. I was disappointed to find out it takes as long as the AC does. But I think if you get it less frequently, the tx time is even longer. My friend's mother just did Taxol and it took 4-5 hours each time.

How is everyone doing with eyebrows and lashes? I am really scared that mine will all fall out before my interview tomorrow afternoon!! My brows have thinned. I got a great brow kit at Sephora last week. The saleswoman showed me how to put it on, and it looks very natural. Has anybody lost lashes? I think it's rather unfair that I am still having to shave my legs, though, since my head hair is almost completely gone. Although some of what we shaved is starting to grow back. But the onc nurse said whatever is still there will definitely fall out after today's tx.

OK, I feel like I'm rambling. Must be the steroids!!

Hope all of you are at least muddling through. Ginger, I'll be hoping and praying that your last AC doesn't knock you out. The onc nurses swear that Taxol is way easier!!
And Rose, I hope you have a great time this week. My daughter is 20 and moved back in with us for a few months to save money. It's great having her around. We chat every morning over coffee. I hope you really enjoy your time with your daughter this week!!

Donna

Jane, What sort of teaching do you do? I'm in education as well. This job I'm interviewing for is a high school counselor position. So you'll be doing the Taxol during the school year. How have you scheduled your treatments? I'm concerned about the time I will need off.
I did do a Look Good, Feel Better class at Gilda's Club. It was great! They give you really good stuff! My daughter went with me and we had a ball. She's jealous of all the stuff I got.

With regard to the eyebrows, mine seem to be thinning from the outsides, so I, too, seem to have halfbrows. And yet the "unibrow" hairs are still growing in between my eyes!
Go figure.

Hope everyone sleeps well tonight.
Donna

Donna, I teach middle school. I was in school today trying to organize some things in my room. It was hard to stick to task. I was so tired from last night. Another night of poor sleep. I worry about the school week that follows my last two AC's. A friend of mine went through BC and advised the following: if you can, get treatments on Thursday afternoons (I'll take a half day on Thursday), then take off Friday, crash on the couch over the weekend and be somewhat ready to go on Monday. I know from experience that the Monday after chemo will be the hard one, but hey, only two AC's left! Another thing is that the Labor Day weekend falls in my cycle so I'll automatically have the Monday after chemo off. The weekly Taxols, I'm not sure of how that will go. I'll still go for the Thursday afternoon program and take Friday off if needed. Luckily, I have a lot of sick days saved up.

I'm not crazy about the wig. It's a good one, but I still feel like I have a giant beehive on my head. At least my students won't know me any differently. They'll just think that's how my hair is naturally. My friends tell me it looks "good", but hey, they're my friends.

Jane

Laura,

I felt worse after my second treatment than I did after my first, but then, happily, after tx#3, I am feeling better than after #2! I'm actually feeling pretty normal! Maybe it's just luck, but there is hope that each successive tx will not necessarily be worse than the previous one. I also think it has to do with the heat. It was SO HOT and humid the week of tx #2!!! A bit cooler now, and there is a breeze. Good that you got to walk at the mall. You have inspired me to get myself on my treadmill today, as I really slacked off with trying to do any form of excercise last week.

Donna
P.S. Now, since I feel so good, I sometimes find myself worrying that tx #3 isn't working or something!

Laura,
I, too, had a much harder time after my second tx. My energy level was much lower, even on my good weeks. Monday will be number three for me. I am dreading it, but trying very hard to remain optomistic. The day before my tx, I just cannot relax. I think that the pre med decadron has a lot to do with it, but also I try to get things in order for the week to come.

I spent the entire day preparing for my daughter's 21st birthday dinner. I made homemade applesauce, sauerbraten, red cabbage and apples, and three other vegetables. My older son made a four layer cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream filling. It was delightful. There were 11 of us. My sister and sister in law and niece all helped with cleanup. It was so nice. Now I can relax a bit.

Have a nice weekend, Rose

Goldenpony -
I had a very mild 1st tx, actually great compared to my second tx. Now on day 10th of 2nd round, I still feel terrible. I have had an upset stomach, diiarrhea so bad I was seeing blood, and awful chest pain. I, like you, am fearing #3.

How do you know the tumor has shrunk? PET/CT?

I was first told, I would only need 3 tx, followed by surgery. However the hospital and insurance says my onc ordered 6! When I asked her all I got was a "we'll see"., then off she went on her vacation. I saw her partner and presented the same question. This time the Dr would not commit to an answer as I was not his patient. There is no way I can do SIX.

I wondered how they can tell if the tumor has shrunk unless I have a second PET/CT. My post biospy PET showed activity in the surgical site and in 2 nodes. My GP said that could be caused by the healing itself. My onc would only commit to "activity" with no explaination. Needless to say I am waiting a referral to a new onc. I just cannot see spending years with this one who won't tell me if my tumor is shrinking or not or if I even have one.

Abbi,

Oh My! 12 WEEKLY Taxol txs!!

Congrats on your last A/C!! I'll be having my 2nd of 4 TC txs on Tuesday, the 28th! I'll be thinking of you on the 30th!!

Good Luck!! We can do this!!

Say, I really LOVE your bandana! You look great in your pic!

HARLEY

Figsgirls - Thanks for the encouragement. I did finally snap out of it and am feeling much better. I get another week of feeling good before #3.

rspayne - How are you doing? How was #3? Hang in there!

goldenpony - How was #3? "Think shrink!" Sounds like it is working. That must be good to know as you go through the hard days.

jbw123 - My #3 is the day after yours. Enjoy this week and TRY not to think about next week. I am trying to get all my ducks in a row so all my bills are paid, meals are pre-prepared, etc. It is a little like getting ready for a hurricane (I lived on the Outer Banks of NC for several years). Batten down the hatches!!!

Hey everyone!
I haven't posted in a while either. Although my se's were milder this time around (tx #3 for those who are fearing that their upcoming tx's might be worse), it has taken me a little longer to totally bounce back. This is my off week and usually I feel 100% my old self, but yesterday I felt kinda yucky. I hate the constipation! And the sleep thing is contributing also. I fall asleep fine and then wake up at 3 or 4 am. It takes at least an hour to fall back asleep. Did you know you can watch several episodes in a row of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" at that time of night??

I did get out for a run on Saturday evening. Well, more like a jog/walk. It was hard but I did it. My husband came with me and he was very encouraging! He was like a big, bald cheerleader! I hope someday to look back and laugh. Right now I just can't wait for it to be over.

A/c #4 for me is Monday 8/27!!!!!!!!!!! My last one!! Although I love being in my off week, I can't wait to get Monday and all of next week over with! We have a bottle of champagne designated for the night of my last AC. (Abbi, I'll be thinking of you as you'll have yours a few days later). Then I am also on to 12 weeks of Taxol.

Several weeks ago we were talking about the period thing. I should have gotten mine last week and I didn't! Just a little tiny spotting. So I guess I'm in menopause at 42. I haven't had any hot flashes though.

Here is a cute thing my husband said the other night: We were getting amorous, shall I say, for the first time, unfortunately, in a long time, and I said to him "You are having sex with a bald person". He giggled and replied, "So are you!" Between the mastectomy, reconstruction in progress, chemo, baldness, etc. etc. I've had a hard time feeling sexual, so his response took away some of the tension.

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone.

Donna

Hi Ladies,
Congrats everyone on getting through our tx's.
Rose 1/2 way thru that is great!
Donna #4 A/C on the same day I am getting #3 A/C, Champagne after A/C you go girl!
Abbi Last A/C on 8/30 wow I cannot wait to get there!
Gr8DazeAhead #3 ? chemo brain...........lol it is great we are all progressing!
goldenpony shrink think shrink!
I am so glad to come in here and read your posts, makes me feel better we are not going thru this alone. We will all get through this together! Thank you Ladies for the support Charlene

Donna, I know what you mean about not having a taste for anything alcoholic. I had a 21st birthday dinner for my daughter and did not drink any of the wine that we served with dinner. I love European beer, but it tastes awful, I suppose it is a good thing because of the stress on your liver, anyway. But, A friend of mine has been finished with chemo for about six months and things still don't taste right. Hope we fare better!!!

Abbi, I hope that you can overcome feeling down. Do you go to any type of support group or counseling? It really helps to vent to an impartial party. I'm sure that after the red devil is gone things will get better.

Take care to all....Hope that you are feeling well, Charlene.
peace, rose