Anyone starting chemo in June 08

I'm in.  Start the red devil 5/11.  Bi-lat mastectomy plus axillary dissection (4 out of 28) on 5/16; er+ pr+ her2 -.  Stage IIIa.  Got my mediport 6/2 and still have 2 of my 4 drains (argh!!).  Opted for no reconstruction for now.

My name is Ann and I live in Upstate NY.  I'm married and my wonderful, but too far away, daughter is 21.  Started a wonderful garden boutique a year and half ago that, of course, is still not making money.  In a quandry as to whether I should still invest money (that my husband may need later) for a business that probably won't make money for another year or so.  Husband's Supervisor is a pill and thinks he's taking waaay to much time off.  I think we're going to go the offical family leave act route so he can accompany me at least some of the time.  For now, I'm thinking of taking the yup-I-have-breast-cancer route ... flat chest, bald head with baseball cap, and I need my nap now breaks.  i'm glad after all the fussing to be hunkering down to a routing with a schedule.  Good luck to us all in this next step in our adventure in upside-down cancer world.  (Only in cancer world would we be hoping for a succesful poisoning of our bodies)  Namasste, Ann

My name is Kristy and I am from East Texas. I am married and have 5 kids ranging from 7-21 years of age.

HI LADIES;

I am new on here too, i am liz19 , i am  getting my muga scan on

friday6-6-08. i also have to get my port in before chemo starts

next thursday. i am doing FEC, first then docetaxel the next cycles

i am really scared   I am 41 married and have 4 kids 3 girls and

1 boy thats 9 mo. my girls are 22,17, and 13. i also have a grandson

who will be 3 this weekend!!! after chemo treatments then i do rads

for 6 weeks, keep in touch with me ,i am on chatroom at nights

sometime , hope to talk to some of you girls in there.

keep me in your prayers, i am praying for everyone too, take care

                                                                liz19

Hi momof2,

Saw Oncologist May 21 and May 28.  Found out my chemo sched on May 28:  every 2 weeks starting June 10 dose dense ACT for 16 weeks(8 treatments); one month off to 'rest' then 2 months radiation.  Between May 28 and now I have been to 'chemo school'(one hour info session) and had a bone scan, abdominal ultra-sound and chest X-Ray yesterday (all clear).  Just the parking at Juravinski is going to bankrupt me.  Keep me posted.

The same doc!  What are the odds?  Westie are you researching Avastil?  They're now doing Stage III trials - I think because IV looked good.

What are the rest of you planning around your hair loss in a couple of weeks?  I'm thinking of a very short scissors cut the 1st week of chemo and then a buzz the second week.  Can't stand the idea of clumps everywhere.  Still undecided about wig.  Soooo expensive and I feel like it's for others, not me.   I plan to start trying to learn eyeliner while I'm still in a good mood.  Not much of a make-up person ... any advice on powder, cream, pencil

Here's my list of good:  finally have a sched I can plan around; 2 of my 4 drains are out; port was not bad at all; parking is free;  2-1/2 weeks post surgical I'm - finally- starting to have some energy.  AND my dh said last night ... you know, I didn't realize it, but I'm used to your new shape.

My list of bad:  can barely stand the stink!!!, 2 drains still in, I'm scared

Ann 

Ann.....add me to the party list......I'll make the drive.....anything for a party......sounds like everyone is recommending the brow powder.....as a blonde......I've always filled in with pencil......it's always worked for me and looked natural......but maybe when theere's no hair there to fill in......the powder stays on better......I've always loved make-up and wear it everyday.....so looking forward to the challenge.....well not really but.....not afraid of it either.....now  the bald head.......dreading that......got a wig.....don't love it.....but don't hate it......have been playing around with it.....and have figured out that if I put a headband on with it......seems to look less fake.....makes me feel better anyway.....lots of hats so far.....and lots of skull caps in the mail....bought a "b-tube".....like from our Zellers....seems to be for the olympics.....anybody come accross these.....pretty easy to wear.....and very soft......still need to figure out what I'll sleep in.

Cheers

Jax

rmpoulsen - an extra-special hug for you

deecw - congrats!

donalee - are you putting gobs of the cream on two hours before and covering with saran wrap?

kaejan - suspect the problem is that you're so susceptible to infection.  I'm not allowed to go into the store I own. 

Jax - you are a party girl.  going to see if I can find a friend for a hat shower.  One possible solution make the diva your fashion consultat... she gets to pick the wig, design your new make-up, etc.  she'll probably love being bossy and a recongnition of her talents.

KKing, Jax and all other members .... October 25, Toronto, Girls Only.  We'll get a 4-star priceline.  I'll spring for the champagne and the pedicures.  Jax can teach us to makeover our new beautiful selves. 

All of you fussing about our hair loss - don't forget .. a whole summer of no leg waxing or shaving! and now you get to see what a bikini wax might do for you.

Am I the only one aving trouble keeping track of the Jine club?   I'll post a draft list.  If you'll add, correct, I'll post an amended.

Already don't know what I'd do withut you.  Ann

PS Namaste means (the short version) heartfelt: the spirit in me salutes spirit in you as one with the spirit of the universe surronding us.   

PS Jax (who's giving out make-up tips for those who need them) ... I'm not even going to attempt eyebrows. I'm sure they'd look too fake on my very pale skin.  I was thinking eyeliner tho and would like to get my practice in now.  Any advice?  Brands? colors?  Check with the kid for me.  Thanks

Hi ladies:  I just got home from my first treatment (AC for 4 rounds, then 4 rounds Taxol).  I have to admit it was pretty uneventful, but I'm totally prepared for the other shoe to drop by this weekend.  Had bloodwork taken, then met with the Onc nurse who walked me through se's etc (i've read so much though, she really didn't tell me anything I hadn't heard from reading these boards).  Anyway, the drip took about an hour.  Beware of a splitting headache toward the end of the Cytoxin drip (which takes about 10 minutes).  I popped an xtra strength tylenol and it was gone in a few minutes. 

 Somebody asked about the hair thing.  I bought a wig and then had my hair cut close to the wig style.  I work ft so thought I'd give my colleagues a chance to adjust.  I'm anticipating needing to have it buzzed in about 16 days (which just so happens to be the day of my daughter's HS graduation party, so timing couldn't be worse).  I also bought a couple of head scarves from Beaubeau.  If you haven't already, you should check out their site. The scarves are expensive, but beautiful.  

Donalee, I bet she is talking about the port.  I don't recall if you have one but they give you lidocane cream to put on before you go in for tx and tell you to cover it with the wrap.  I am still confused about the shower curtain thing.  Hehehe....all these posts are hard to keep track of.  Namaste, you are doing a better job than i am!!!!

Donalee - The cream is "Emla", although there is also a generic version. You apply it 1 to 2 hrs before your treatment. Apply generous coverage, cover the area with Saran wrap (or other plastic wrap). It numbs the skin over the port, not so it feels cold or totally without sensation, but when they insert the needle it only feels like a little pinprick. You should definitely ask your onc for a prescription for it!

Namaste/Ann - Two things: First, please add me to the June list. I actually started in April, had my 4 dd tx's of AC, & am scheduled to start 12 wkly treatments of Taxol + Herceptin on June 17th, so I'll be around for quite awhile.  (Actually, I guess Herceptin really depends on results of Muga scan I'm scheduled for on Monday 6/09.) - - Second, Neupogen shots are given for a number of days (typically 6 to 10) per cycle, generally at home, self-injected. I've had 8 days per cycle, time 4 cycles of AC. You might be thinking of Neulasta, which is given once per cycle, generally in the doctor's office the day after treatment (from what I've read, anyway). Both of them boost white blood cell counts. Both can cause bone pain. But that's not always the case; I had no bone pain except for 2 days (different cycles) & each time it was manageable with OTC pain relievers.

Robyn46 - As far as the headache from Cytoxan, I'd recommend that you ask the onc nurse to slow the drip, at least to 1/2 hour! I had my Cytoxan drip for an hour & had no headache. (A good friend of mine is also an onc nurse, & she recommended no less than 1/2 hour, & preferably a full hour. All I know is that it worked for me.)

I was supposed to have my Muga scan (2nd scan - had the 1st before my AC tx's) this past Monday & would have started my Taxol + Herceptin next Tuesday, but as others have noted, God has a strange sense of humor, & decided to take my Mom this past Saturday, so the Muga & tx both got pushed back a week. I have an office visit with my onc Friday (tomorrow) morning, & I kept that appt. Good thing, because - now that I've finished AC - I've got some sort of mouth sores or thrush for the 1st time.  OH - Anyone getting AC tx's (or at least the Adriamycin portion): I *highly* recommend sucking on ice chips throughout the Adriamycin drip, which helps prevent (or at least reduce) the chances of getting mouth sores. I did the ice chip thing all 4 tx's, didn't get mouth sores during tx, although my mouth would feel a little sore during mid-cycle but would then feel better. It's only now that I have a little white spot on the underside of my tongue (thankfully one side only), but it makes it painful to eat or drink or sometimes even just to talk. So my onc w/b giving me something for that tomorrow.

Best wishes for easy treatments & minimal SE's to all!

Thanks for the Welcome's !

Must fill in my details/profile bit, just got back from camping...making the most of not feeling yucky as I've a horrid feeling that may change...

The kids flew kites for the first time..brilliant

I'm now off shopping for things off the chemo list, good thoughts to allxxx

I also start in June and will be glad to partner up with you.

ditto......hunkyd on the declaring in advance thing.........Susan.....so sorry about your mom.....beauty queen....lol......I wish.......do love to being a girl......looking forward to the not shaving thing.......and losing aunt flow for a while will be great.......gotta look at the bright side......for those that have had chemo treatments already......how soon after you started did aunt flow stop visiting?

Jax

I had my port-a-cath insertion and my first infusion yesterday and all went well.  So far I have some serious bruising and mild discomfort from the port-a-cath but no side affects from the chemo (although it's still early in the game).  I'm involved in a clinical trial and am on a slightly different schedule chemo schedule than most.  I'm starting with weekly infusions of taxol for 12 weeks and then 15 weeks of AC again weekly infusions.  So I have a long row to hoe.  I'm really impressed the Seattle CCA and their staff is the best.  Yesterday was a big day for me and I had to face a lot of my fears.  I was really nervous about the infusion but everything was fine. 

namaste - please add me to your chemo list for june 19