Starting Chemo May 2008

I am on my last A/C Thursday then to taxol/herceptin July 17 (if all goes well). I am counting on those of you flying early to share, share, share. I believe Jeano77 and I are one day apart on our last A/C then onto taxol for both of us, right?

Rock, we are all scared and we are all going to survive this and we are all going to party when the last person in our cohort is finished (and you all are going to have to wait around for those of us who are her2positive as we have zillions of weeks of herceptin to go. But when it's all said and done, we will toast one another with funnel cakes and margaritas; with brownies and other dark and milk chocolates; with wine and whine-free days; with chilled lemonade and hot espresso....women, we will survive. Go ahead, start singing...go on now go...Rock, I am thinking of you and all the rest of us as we are taxol virgins, but once we were A/C virgins and don't we all wish we were cancer virgins, but once you're in...you're an exclusive member. I have to go practice my IV pole dancing. I am planning on doing it naked on Thursday just to shake things up....the other day I pointed a bald guy out to my husband and said, "See, he's bald and he's walking around without a hat just like me."My hubby said, "Yah and you're one breast ahead of him too." Yea.  

Christine - you can whine about your hair when you're ready. You can also celebrate when even 1 hair thinks it's growing.

I got really tired again yesterday.  I took my parents shoping, so that may have added to it.  Many of you have heard about my parents.  My dad wanted to go with us so he could get his glasses adjusted.  Generally, he goes this and then he and my dh, sit on a bench people watching.  Yesterday dh didn't go.  We went a little ways and he asked if this store had those little buggies you ride in (I'm guessing wheelchair, since that's what I got). After I got him settled in I told him that I was supposed to take it easy, so he was going to have to take a turn at pushing me.  He laughed, and said he had already had his turn - 55 years ago.  He can't remember lots of things, but he'll never lose that sense of humor.

Not sure but think this is the pole dancer rock was reffering to. Too funny!

I'm bitchy, I moan, I groan.....anyway.

If link doesn't work it was in Moving Beyond Cancer - I'm Bitchy, I moan, I groan - Page 85 - June 25, 2008 by HannaB

Enjoy the day, Karin

Eddie, I would have been with you tomorrow, but with the change to Taxotere I've gone to a 3-week schedule.  So we're out of sync, I'm afraid.  Waterfalls were sounding good to me, but if you'd like something a little different, how about the desert?  You could watch the sun go down over spires of red rock.  (Just be sure to take along plenty of water.)

 Lee, what a touching comment about your dad's sense of humor.

Adrienne and Rock, good wishes for your treatments today.

After finding my first Taxotere a little tough, and posting to whine about it, I really owe an update.  With all of another week to lend perspective, I can now say that the bad part only lasted 2-3 days.  The fatigue lifted by Day 8, and little by little, I found more foods that didn't taste either brackish or cottony.  By Saturday I was walking through Brooklyn's Chinatown on a dumpling quest with my bestest eating buddy, and Sunday I biked over hills and bridges and finally raced home into gail-force winds as a thunderstorm moved in from the opposite direction.  (We made it back about 30 seconds before the downpour started.)

Christine, funny you should mention hair loss from Taxotere.  (Well, not so funny, but you know what I mean.)  I lost my hair to AC, then thought it was maybe growing back, but have just started to notice a secondary nether-hair drop starting on Day 11 of my first Taxotere cycle.  Weird. 

Oh, and in response to Eddie's question - whistling doesn't bug me in the slightest.  I think we should all feel free to whistle (or in my case, kind of hiss) or sing (in or out of key) any tunes we damn well want.

Linda

Air is finally clearing up around here and dd's softball tournament is on for545 on Saturday, here's hoping I will b able to go....I have ended up missing 3/4 of the season thanks to chemo-ness.  This is her All-Star gaem and she is so excited.

My brother is coming up tomorrow...whoo hoo....someone who sees past the cncer and is entertaining....

DOn;t think we should plan for Yosemite, they have another wildfire working into the park...how about Iceland, you know the fjords are probably melting, we could hang out, watch the northern lights, sue there are waterfalls and then sauna out??????

Hope it went welll with our Taxol pioneers today.....randie

Linda, my dad is a very special man.  My mom was putting the cart away, and I asked him if he thought we should leave her (honest, she could pluck God's last nerve sometime), and his response was I don't know what I'd do without here.

Went for blood work today to see if counts were high enough.  Onoc nurse said the wbc was a bit low 2.96, but the anc was very high, so I should be good, since first  tx is Mon.  Took them to the rads dr. and am waiting.  I'm hoping no news is good news.  Keep you fingers crossed.

Hope everyon has a great day, with little se.

Lee

OK, May women, here's one for you . . .

 This afternoon I decided it was time to get the kayak in the water and go for a short paddle.  So, I did.  It was warm but windy, with lots of refreshing spray as the kayak bounced over the waves.  I had a blast.

Walking back through the park, a few people looked at me a bit oddly, as though they'd never seen a bald woman kayak.  Yes, I wanted to tell them: this is what breast cancer looks like. (I can be just a teensy bit self righteous sometimes.)  By the park entrance, I exchanged pleasantries with a neighbor - the world's straightest woman - as she hustled her staring children past me.  Ah well, I thought - it'll be educational for them.

In the car, still flush with good feelings of strength and self-worth, I glanced at myself in the rear view mirror, expecting to see "strong cancer woman" looking back. 

Instead, I saw something like an outtake from a slasher flick.  My nose and upper lip were totally coated with blood, partly dried, partly fresh.  It was a thoroughly horrifying sight.

All I can figure is, dry and irritated mucous membranes + no nose hairs + low platelets + exertion = stealth nose bleed.  I'd noticed a little blood over the last few days if I blew my nose too hard, but nothing the least bit like this.

Sometimes, the stares truly aren't about the hair.  Or not only about the hair.

(Angels, if your avatar is the view from your cabin, as I think you mentioned it was . . . WOW.  What a great place to relax.  Randie, I like what you said about your brother being someone who sees past the cancer and is entertaining.  We should all have someone like that.)

Linda

I am home, safe and sound.  Everything went great on the first round of Taxol.  Last night, 12 hours before treatment I had to take 20 mg of Decadron, then again 6 hours before tx.  Doctor was running behind so we had to wait awhile but finally once we got started on the tx it took about 3 1/2 hours as they said it would.

I hit that magic anemia button (10.9 on the HGB) that had them giving me a shot of Aranesp.  Then the tx started with Benedryl followed by Aloxi, Decadron, Zantac then the Taxol.  Boy did the Benedryl make me loopy and sleepy.  I napped off and on.  All and all it went very well and I think I'm only tired because of the Benedryl, but I want to be able to sleep tonight so trying to stay up.

I asked the doctor about my hair because I was expecting the cue ball shiny by now.  I actually, although shaved, have quite a bit of hair.  He didn't think I'd lose anymore and that it would probably start to grow back during Taxol.  I won't rely tooooo heavily on that but it sure wuld be nice.

Rock - please let us know how you're doing.  I was thinking about you and hope everything went well.

~Adrienne

Kristy -- Went to bed and then got up because I scanned your post earlier and ... well, I'm so sorry you're in pain.

1) try wiping with a Tucks pad or a baby wipe instead of toilet paper anytime you're sore (I use a baby wipe for the first few days after chemo, no matter how I"m feeling)

2) some people have gotten relief by using a ketchup-type squeeze bottle filled with water to rinse.

Call your onco nurse.  Maybe she/he can offer something useful, maybe not. But it's worth a call and it beats that kind of discomfort.   (If you're having hard stools/BMs, consider taking some Fiber One or some other stool softener. The pain may be from straining.)

I hope you get some relief. And as far as I"m concernes (me, of blood 'roid fame), there is nothing anyone can post here that is TMI when it comes to coping with breast cancer.

I hope everyone rests well. Cris, Sue, Linda, EVERYONE, thank you for your encouraging words. Honest to God, I was thinking of all of you today... it helped. It helped so much. 

Wow, I haven't posted in a few days and I must say, between all the tears and laughter your posts bring me, I truly am blessed to have such wonderful friends out there. Last Thursday night I went to a local breast cancer survivors group. The group, Circle of Hope, has 12 members all between the ages of 32 and 54. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. My Vice President's wife is 2 years out and invited me to come. It was really hard for me. Everyone took turns telling their story. I explained how thankful I was that my cancer team pressed for an MRI. If not for that MRI, they never would have found my tumor. It made me realize how everyone's cancer is so different but you could feel the bond these women had with each other. Much like ours. One women is terminal and has surpassed the 18 months they gave her to live. She's found the Cancer Treatment Centers of America by our house and is currently taking only an oral medication. They have a fundraiser planned for Sunday, July 20th which I volunteered to work. Proceeds are going to the group and the Deanna Favre's Breast Cancer Foundation. I'm scared to get attached to these women for fear of losing one. Am I being selfish? It was so hard but comforting at the same time. I must admit I cried a lot that night. I really haven't had a good ballin in awhile and I felt better after that. 

On Monday I have my second MUGA scan and on Wednesday I start my taxotere and herceptin. They told me to plan on being there for five hours. I'm going to ask again for a bone scan. I got back to the Y yesterday for my exercise classes. I haven't worked out since my surgery in April. Talk about a ballbuster. Sorry, couldn't resist. It's nice to have a bit of normalcy back in my life. So where we going next week? Did I read about waterfalls....I'm open for suggestions.

Roxi 

Sharon - The possible side effects of the Aranesp are pretty standard...fatigue, leg swelling, nausea blah blah blah.  So we'll see how it goes.  I have 4 X Taxol (DD) every two weeks.  I won't have any bloodwork done until next tx in two weeks.  No need to do next week since it takes the Aranesp a couple of weeks to be effective.

~Adrienne 

Linda,

Sorry we are out of sinc. Whistling drives me nuts with the headaches I have been getting so you all can sing, yell, hum and do all that around me but no whistling. Love the story about the blood because you were out doing what you love so two sheets to the wind. Too bad no one had the nerve to say, "Pardon me, but you're a bloody mess! It's fine with the neighborhood to show us you are an amazon cancer survivor, but we will not stand for dried blood.

Adrienne, Rock, Welcome home. Glad it weent well.

Kristy Ann

Hemoroids and I know I am misspelling that. I have had the pain as well. It comes and goes. Be gentle and listen to the suggestions from women above....there have been days when I have dreaded going to the bathroom, but I just keep thinking...it's only a few minutes of pain. It's better for me now...I expect it comes and goes. Also, I am curious to hear more about herceptin as I'll be on it for 4 weeks after chemo.

Randie

Yes to anywhere in Norway, Sweden or Finland for waterfalls....probably Norway. Iceland is also very green so I will be somewhere there tomorrow. Good suggestion.

Jeano77 Can't wait to get on 24 hours from now and say, me too...I will be done with A/C 4 and ready to lose my taxol virginity in two weeks.

Sable, LOVE that photo. I used to babysit for John Denver's kids before the divorce from Ann. 

Everyone...LOVE THE BALD photos. They rock nearly as much as Rockthebald.

Roxi and Angelsaboveus...good to see you post again.

Everyone else again,

Wish me luck on A/C #4 tomorrow then the shot the day after. I am dreading this as these last few days have been so nice but I am looking forward to it as I get to make my two towers even at last.

Buenas noches. 

Thanks revkat, that makes me feel better!

Kathy

WARNING TMI TMI TMI

Okay, been thru the 'roids, used A& D and something called Butt paste and worked wonders along with diaper wipes.  Yesterday, I noticed blood on the front part of my undies, TMI ALERT..when I wiped around my urethra (nice word, eh?) I ended up with small spots of blood.  I swear all the little hirs seemed as if they were poking into me.Now don;t laugh at the visual.  But, since I am bald there as well, I tried to lift the sides and look, almost fell over.  Why?  Because to do this I had to suck in the tmmy, sling a boob to the side, thrust the pelvis forward....not a pretty sight.  Then decided I couldn't kill myself if I used a mirror, but couldn't find a mirror, then dh was outside and when I asked him to come in he wanted to know why, so that went nowhere fast.  Anyways, I ended up slathering the inside area with A&D, which helps, but there still is a spot of dried blood...any ideas?

BTW, thanks for all the Taxol updates, rest well and breathe your clean air deeply since the air quality is now at 300 in some of the valleys around us. 

randie 

POINTERS ON "GOOD VEINS" 

As you may recall, I blew a vein on Chemo #4.

Anyway, during my blood draw yesterday, I asked the phlebotomist, "Any pointers? Any advice?" She said, "Well, I've noticed that your hands are always cold. Cold veins don't work very well. Warm up your hands before they put in the IV, draw blood, etc. You could use a hot pack or you could just rub your hands together. Run them under warm water. " That's odd, my hand is always cold? Why is that? And this wonderful, brilliant phlebotomist said, "You're probably drinking a lot of water. Are you holding your water in your right hand? It's probably cooling off your hand and your circulation in that hand. Either drink room temperature water or hold the water in your other hand." I could have kissed her.  THAT is the problem. I'm always clutching a bottle of cold water in my "IV" hand the morning of chemo!

The nurse, Kerry, also has a technique for finding good veins. She had me hang my arm down off a pillow and pumping my hand open and closed to make it easier to identify a vein.

I POSTED THIS BEFORE BUT IT DISAPPEARED INTO THE ETHER. This is happening to me more since the re-design. Arrrggggh.