Starting Chemo May 2008

Ladies,

Good luck to all with your treatments tomorrow, this is my off week and I feel GREAT!!!! I over did it today and worked 6 hours so I'll be hitting the sheets after American Idol. Go David...Cook that is. Has anyone's side effects escalated after round 1? A couple of people have told me that the SE's get progressively worse.



Thinking of you all.



Roxi

Hi all,

I'm still a Grrrr monster - the only thing I heard today was that the pathologist at Stanford called the pathologist at the hospital.  WTH?!?  If I don't have a report by noon tomorrow, I'm calling the pathologist at Stanford myself.  Grrrr......  Thanks, Rock, for the empathic grrrrr.

flyrzfan - know how you feel.  At this point, I may be with you in June!

Otter - hope you found something that was easy and tasted good. 

Glad others are having minimal se's and good luck to Rock and Adrienne tomorrow. 

Someone may have to come bail me out of jail as I may threaten the pathologist though (but it will only be a threat, Rock!)...

Well, I started the dexomethasone pills this morning for my first treatment tomorrow.  I am hoping that the treatment will still be a go, the onc wants to look at my lump. incision before they decide if the treatment will go as scheduled.  I have already drank almost a liter of water this morning.

One question, the Emend that they gave me says to take one hour before chemo.  Should I take it with me, since I have to have lab work and see the doc first or should I take it before I leave the house.  I called the onc office this morning, but I had to leave a message and "worry wart" me is paranoid that I won't get the call at work as I am in and out of my office so much during the day and out in the boonies, so cell service doesn't work out here.

I'm rambling, I think it might be those pills I took.  Boy, do I feel like I'm typing at light speed.

Tina

gogators - my nurse said to wait and take the emend when I sat in the chair because if my bloodwork was low, they wouldn't do the chemo and I would have lost 1 pill.  I haven't had any problems with it so far.

I'm back!  Gee rockthebald...a mariachi band just for you!  How cool is that.

Treatment too also went very well for me...not quite the excitement that you had apparently.

Bloodwork was also great.  WBC and Neutrophil are back in normal range...YAY!  Doc was suprised to see that I still have my hair.  I told him that I know that it is gone any day now.  He also said that, contrary to things that I've read on the Internet, following treatments are easier than the first (meaning side effects).  Yes, you'll still have the exhaustion but the other stuff gets better.  So I'm pumped about that because treatment 1 was good for me for the most part.  I'm hoping that holds true.

Really glad to see #2 went well for you as well.  We're halfway through A/C!!  Woohoo!!

~Adrienne

Hi All,

I was having a pretty good week and hardly any se's. Until the  fallout began Tues morning (Day#16/Tx#1). Its right on time but still the pits. Pillow has more each day and it comes out like little paintbrushes in fingers or comb. No real bald spots yet, but soon I guess. 

I had wig styled yesterday and I liked it. It slides abit (on my hair underneath?) which "reminds" me that its there. Friend feels it won't slide once hair is gone. It seems to sit back further than I would like and shows alot of my already high forehead. Any tips to keep it in place? I've ordered a wig hugger. Will that do trick? If I can get it to sit still and in lower position, I'll like it and wear it more. If not, I'll be glad to get the hat/scarf I ordered from tlc this week.  

I have a picnic in VT Saturday. If tlc arrives in time, I may wear hat instead of wig. Its a casual picnic, but my first public event. I also see what you all mean about the fallout being nerve wracking. I'm sure once hat arrives (if not sooner) I will cut fringes and be done with this mess.

My 2nd swim in pool is 10am Tues. Glad to hear the s/e's may be less as txs continue. Hope that's true for all of us. Other than my cold (which I don't expect to repeat) I had very mild #1. 2nd (last?) fill is Thurs, but I already have ride there if I need one.

Good luck to all and hope we can enjoy the holiday weekend.

Janice   

Happy Wednesday to all!

I have my ticket to...not Hawaii or Mexico but for four courses at the infusion bar, arrival 9 am Thursday. 

Appetizer:  Benadryl 

1st course: Taxotere 

To Cleanse my palate:  Zofran 

Grand Finale:  Cytoxin

Since I'm taken this trip once before I'm not very apprehensive.  If I'm not too drowsy from the Benadryl my dh and I may go see a movie, otherwise renting "National Treasure" sounds like a plan.

My best to all of you. See you on the other side!

O.k., I finally got the 2nd opinion path results...and I did NOT have to harm anyone!  It was a good day for all.  The results basically confirm the first one, which is what I was looking for.  They disagreed about the grade of the cells (they said 3 instead of 2), but that's about it.  So I have my barstool ready for next Thursday at 9:30. 

Whew...just made it to stay with you gals.  Moving to a new board would have been just as depressing as some of the other stuff that's happened!  I have come to think of this one as my "home board" and generally check here first. 

Glad to hear that everyone's chemo was relatively uneventful (well, except for the fire alarm!) and Rock - love the blog and pics! 

Robin - sending thoughts of uneventfulness your way for tomorrow!

Update:  I went on myspace and posted a blog to my far away friends that have moved from here, I feel better.  My alarm went off 30 minutes ago, so I must get up, shower (well, bathe, I still can't shower until they look at this port today), get my son up and to his bus (the school is two miles away, but I have to drive him 7 miles to catch the bus, weird huh?), eat something and off to tx I go! 

I will check in later today.  Enjoy your day!

Tina

Tina,

Good luck today. I am rooting for both you and I that today is good with minimal complaints in the next couple of days.  I am hoping that it will be fine. Did they tell you that someone could come with you today? It has to be hard since both of your parents are gone, my thoughts and prayers are with you today.

Julie 

rockthebald - I hope you don't mind...I cut and paste your Tips from page 4 over onto the June 2008 thread.  I think your lists will benefit so many.

~Adrienne

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question,....I woke up this morning and my hair physically hurt, at the roots on the top of my head, is this my warning sign of great things to come? (or to leave...I guess would be a better way to put it !)  I am 14 days out today from first tx.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Yup, angelsaboveus, that would be it.  Mine didn't "hurt"--it itched a lot. Most women say their scalp hurts, with a tight pony-tail feeling like beachmom/Lee described. Day 14 seems to be D-day (B-day?  H-day?) for most chemo regimens where we lose our hair. (Tight hugs to you--this can be awful, or funny, depending on how you handle it)...

Note added in Edit:  rockthebald, I spent all afternoon yesterday goofing off on-line and it was entirely your fault!  I followed the link to your blog and read the whole thing.  You are hilarious.  I wish I could write like you do--so witty and irreverent (that's a compliment).  Thank you so much for showing up on this ridiculous journey.

Oh, and I wanted to tell a quick story about your blog post concerning "Saint Agatha," the patron saint of breast cancer patients--also described here:

http://www.catholicspirit.com/stories/2006/feb/0206breastCancer.html

http://saints.sqpn.com/sainta04.htm

I am not Catholic.  I am not even religious (and don't want to go any farther than that).  But, I found this terribly ironic.  Her feast day is February 5th, right?  That's the day I had my mastectomy.

otter

I hope everyone is feelin OK post-treatment.  I go tomorrow for my last chemo of round 1; 3 more rounds to go....assuming today's blood work is ok, anyway.

Muchos besos, indeed, since they are virtual!

Hello All.  I'm writing this while in the chair poolside.  Please forgive me if the posting gets a bit wordy.

Tina - too bad we can't see who is on-line when we are.  I was up in the wee hours of the morning also, thinking Decadron to be the culprit.  Wishing you well across the miles for a smooth treatment #1 today, and that all the SE you are fearful of are nonexistent. 

Angels - my scalp started itching day 10 then a few days later my scalp became very tender.  I have always had short hair so I don't know the tight pony tail feeling.  Day 17 a number of hairs began to drop and by day 19 I had my dh buzz cut my hair to 1/2 inch.  Yes, I cried but in the privacy of my home.  Doing the buzz cut helped me come to accept the inevitable.  Now it's day 22, I have just a little stubble and I am OK.  Much better than I thought I'd be.  And getting ready is so much quicker!  No hair to dry and style.  You will manage this and come to accept your new look - in your own way.  I think each of us come to grips with this individually, just like how our SE are unique to each of us.

rock - my onco said no vit C 7 days before and 7 days after chemo.  Never heard about the never ever.  I use mega doses when I am getting a cold and would hate to give that up (after chemo is a has been)

Leeayn - Welcome!  Sorry you are on this journey but hope you find this thread, and the website to be helpful and a lifeline.

Craftygal - It was good to read that you liked the way your wig was styled.  Currently I have two wigs, one human hair and I can style that one myself.  It looks very similar to my pre-chemo hair (without the gray).  The Raquel Welch wig I purchased is attractive bu seems a little ratty.  The is a salon in town that cleans and styles wigs for free so I may take advantage of their service before I banish it back to the box.  Yesterday I tried on a Noriko wig and loved the silky feel, the cap felt secure without being too tight.

Your wig should not slip as much or at all when your hair is gone.  The wig hugger sounds like a good idea!  Is your wig adjustable?  That will help if it is.

Cristine - I am glad you now have a game plan!  I understand the need to get it underway, we all do.

Well, I'll close for now.  I have about 2 more hours here so I may be back before they boot me out of the pool.

Robin