I am starting chemo in July 07. Anyone else?

Wow...AC sucks!  I was a little nauseous the first night...but it went away.  I don't have much of an appetite...and I kinda feel like somebody ran me over with a semi.  Much different than the Taxotere.  I almost feel like I have the flu with the AC.  I feel really weak.  I just keep telling myself...only 3 left...

I hope you're feeling better Abbey.  I'd hoped you wouldn't get sick from it but most of us do.  It does suck!

Donna,  I had my consult with the radiation onc already and I have to have 7 weeks of radiation but he did ask me if I was going to be contemplating reconstruction in the future because in many cases they can alter the dose/strength to prevent any problems with future recon.  Perhaps they can do that after recon also if you will need rads. 

 Tomorrow is my last DD taxol tx! During AC, there were times when I didn't think this day would come, but I agree that AC does already seem like a distant memory.  It really is amazing how time does fly when you put your head down and just get through it and manage your life in two week increments. Two weeks after tomorrow's tx I should start rads.  Hope to be done by the end of the year.  

Linda

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Hey girls, had my lumpectomy on Monday and the dr called on Tuesday and said the pathologist said all is clear, so I went back to work today sore as all get out, but I am making it will start taxol on nov 12th not looking forward to it but got to press on, hope you ladies are doing well , the race on saturday was awesome i was so overwhelmed  with emotion meeting all of the survivors and getting encouragement from them ,everyone should try to attend.

Thanks Tina

Had to go to the ER this morning...woke up with a fever of 101.4.  I kinda feel like it was a waste of my time and money to go (but that's what my onc told me to do when I called him this morning) all they told me was that I have an upper respiratory infection (cold) and that my white blood cell counts were a little low.  So, I got stuck with a $75 co-pay.  I am going to ask him next time I see him why I couldn't have just waited until my regular Drs. office opened and went in there...it would have been a heck of a lot cheaper!  I feel pretty lousy though...even if it's just a cold.

Hi Ladies,

I am wondering how Rose and Lori are feeling haven't seen them post in awhile. I hope you ladies are hanging in there. Rose I think you have maybe 1 tx left, I have 1 taxol left Nov 5. Abbey, yes A/C sucks, cabbot argue about that, but it is doable. Have a great weekend all. Boo! Take care Charlene

Just hang in there, Lori.

This treatment just takes so long.  I think we're all feeling the same way about now.  I have 7 more Taxols to go (8 weeks), then the rads, then the Tamoxifin.  And I'm really sick and tired of being bald and being tired and being scared and being weepy and all the rest of it.   I hate that I have to take anti-depressents and anti-anxiety pills and sleeping pills.  Will it ever end?    ...... well, actually.... no.  I'm now a breast cancer patient for the rest of what I hope will be the rest of my very long life.  But I have to believe that it will get better.

The person I was before BC is gone and there's a new person in her place.  But that doesn't automatically mean a negative.  This is a very long and very hard year, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Think of all the survivors out there enjoying life.  We'll be there some day too.

But until then, we can just take it one day at a time.  Just keep focusing on that light at the end of the tunnel..... that's what I tell myself every single day.

Wow Mom,

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Catch up on life, take a deep breath!

Charlene

Congratulations, Karen! I can't wait until I am in your place. Good luck as you move on and take your life back.

Lori, Keep on hanging in there.

This does seem to get harder as time goes on. Sometimes it seems like it will never end! Fortunately there are more good days than bad, but I hate that one day I will feel great and another day I will feel like crap or will have no energy at all. It seems so unpredictable to me. Last night I had a horrible time sleeping, so today I am not feeling so great at all.

Yesterday was Taxol #8 so I am officially 3/4 of the way through my chemo. Last week, one of the women I've been seeing at chemo every week had her last tx, and yesterday there was another one. I am always so envious! But then, there was also a woman yesterday who was getting her first AC. I always feel sorry for the newbies. The AC is so rough! Anyway, the fact that I had a tx yesterday probably accounts for my trouble sleeping. Hopefully tonight will be better. We had such a beatiful summer here and fall has been equally beautiful and I get frustrated that I am missing it. And my husband is a hunter, so he is gone all day Saturday and Sunday these days. He would be home more if I asked him to, but he loves hunting so much I hate to ask him. Oh and I had to buy new pants because I have gone up a size. I guess I am just having a pity party lately!!

But on the bright side, we just booked a trip to Key West for February and hopefully I will have lost the weight I've gained, and I should have had the swap surgery to change my expanders for silicone implants. Oh and of course I hope to have some hair by then. Looking toward the future.........

Abbey, glad you are on the mend. I agree you were right to go to the ER. I recall reading about Pixie Dust and it scared the heck out of me!  

Happy Halloween everyone. I got a halloween print "chemo helmet" (my term for scarves) at chemo yesterday, so I will be wearing it to hand out candy. Some nice lady made a bunch of them with various holiday prints, and donated them. Got one for Christmas also.

Donna

karen - I can't wait to have that feeling of being done! your luckey

abbi, donna and charlene - thanks for the uplift!  I'm feeling alot better today I hope tomorrow is just as good.  You never know from one day to the next what to expect with me.  lol

Does anyone know how to put pictures on this site?  The August group is always posting pictures.  I like to read their site too they are really humorous if you have never read the post on that site.

I think I have decided to not reconstruct since I had sooooo much trouble with it before.  Do any of you guys need to make that choice and if so how did you decide?  They tell me I will have to go with a back flap since I lost so much tissuse and I just can't see scaring up my back, sides, and front just for boobs.  My dh doesn't care either way he just wants me to be happy with myself.  I think I just need to learn this is the new me and maybe I will get use to the sunken in area where my boobs were.

Thanks for always being there.

Hugs and Prayers

Lori

Definitely a difference without the Neulasta shot!  Not as sore and knocked out.  Still crappy, just not as crappy!  

I have had the weight gain experience, too - about 10 lbs.  I had gained a few before my mastectomy because they told me to, then during chemo, any time I felt good, I ate!  Not being very active doesn't help much, either.  But I figure, I have enough stuff to worry about now...and why start dieting during the holidays?  2008 is a new year, and it will be a better year.  And I will get my energy back and lose the weight.  And I will have hair!

Karen

P.S. Lori, I think you can click the little icon with the tree to add a picture (though I haven't tried it).

Hi Kids,

I called the chemo center nurses yesterday, my feet have not recovered from the taxol as they have with my last 2 tx's.

I have had this weird tingly, burning, numb feeling in the bottoms of my feet with each tx, but this time it hasn't gone away.

They said the onc will probably reduce the dosage of my final taxol on Monday because this can be permanent neuropathy. Has anyone had this feeling in the bottoms of their feet that didn't go away within 1 week after taxol? I am on dose dense X 4. I cannot wait till Monday is over! Chemo will be over!

Abbey, so glad to see your doing better.

Lori, Hang in there kiddo, your almost done!

Have a great, safe Halloween! Charlene

Hi, Ladies!

I have been posting in the TCH thread - it seems like most of the July-starters are on AC. I had my LAST TREATMENT yesterday and now just have Herceptin. I must say that my course on TCH was pretty tolerable - chemo mouth, fatigue and hair loss being the only side effects. I had to have six cycles, which is typical, but the plus is that when you are done with your 6th you ar DONE with CHEMO.

Any other July starters done? Hang in there if you are not there yet - better days are ahead, and the best side effect of chemo is how wonderful you will feel when it is all OVER!

Ginger, My plastic surgeon uses purple marker too! He used a purple Sharpie to draw the lines for my mast., and he always uses one to mark the spot to inject the saline in my expanders.

I have to say I can relate to what you say about looking in the mirror. When I am in front of a mirror naked, it's kind of alarming! That's when my husband says I look like a store mannequin - no hair and no nipples!! (Of course I probably looked more like a mannequin before I gained the 10+ pounds!!).

But Karen, etc., you're right. There is enough to worry about without worrying about a few pounds right now. I was pretty upset about gaining weight, because about a year prior to diagnosis I had worked very hard to lose 35 lb. But I also came to the realization that I gotta get through this however I can. And if a little emotional eating helps, then so be it. I'll lose it when I'm done with tx. and am feeling better. Also, my onc. said a lot of the weight gain can be attributed to the steroids. So now I can blame it on the 'roids, and feel less guilty eating the Halloween candy.

So whose hair is starting to grow back? After 8 Taxols I have a lot of hair! (relatively speaking). I think I will try to post a picture. I've decided that as soon as my whole head is covered with hair, I am going to stop wearing scarves. Today I wore my wig because I felt like having hair.

Charlene - there is a nun who I see at chemo, and she was talking a few weeks ago about pain in her feet and something she discovered that helps a lot. If she is there Monday, I'll ask her what it is and report back.

Happy weekend everyone.

Donna

Hi gang.  Haven't been on much lately.

I was in a big, deep hole of depression, but I'm starting to climb out.

I've now done 6 of my 12 taxol with zero side effects.   It's like they're giving me water.  THAT I can be very thankful for.

My hair has started to come back in.  I have a good 5 o'clock shadow going at the moment all over.  I'm hoping that by my birthday (March 16) I'll be over the scarf thing and be back to some sort of "normal" short hair style.

Still struggling with having my life "on hold" at the moment, but I've been volunteering at a local food pantry and joined a local quilting group, both give me a reason to get out and think about something other than cancer.

Been seeing a therapist as well which is helping a great deal.  They changed antidepressent and anxiety meds on me which are working great.  Only problem is the antidepressent (Remeron) makes me really hungry.  I've already gained back that 10 lbs I had lost ..... and the halloween candy is calling to me all day as well!

Well, I'm jealous of those of you that are ending treatments and moving on, but happy for you.  It's been nice to be able to share this journey with others who understand.

For those of us still doing it..... let's just keep hanging in!

Abbi