Topic: October 2011 Chemo group

Jan 12, 2012 08:25 AM Moonflower83 wrote:

Thank you for understanding!

It seems that everyone around me thinks when chemo is over life will bei the same it was before. And I´m just tired,  anxious and want to hide under my blanket.

We are nearly all finished with chemo... what is your feeling about getting hair again? For me it fells unreal.

I have a question: here in Germany I will go to a convalescent home ( I hope it is the right term) for 3 weeks after radiation. Are you going too or is there nothing like that in the USA?  My insurance pays for it, I just have to pay 10 Euro a day by myself.

Wilrumara: Are you BRCA1 oder 2 or haven´t you done the test? I know a few women which have family history and don´t have BRCA1 oder 2. Perhaps it is not necassary to have a bilateral masectomy, althoug I understand your fears.

Here the nearly don´t do mx when the lump is small. They say, lumpectomy plus radiation is as safe as a mx.

 stjude: How are you doing today?

Jan 12, 2012 08:49 PM stjude10 wrote:

Hey Moonflower, I'm doing ok. I'm very sore from tx on Tues. Just makes me sore all over. I'm anxious for the hair watch to begin. I've never had short hair, and this will be a way to see if I like something other than what I'm used to. Tonight it's snowing here, so I am curled up with a blanket watching hockey. MO has me coming in tomorrow to get a bag of fluids. He thinks that will keep me from feeling worse like I did last time.

Good news, my DD bone marrow aspiration came back clean. Still in remission. Yippee!!!

Hope everyone is doing ok and will have an uneventful weekend w/minimal se's.

Jan 13, 2012 12:48 PM Moonflower83 wrote:

stjude

I´m very happy to hear the good news and hope you will feel better soon. Staying in bed is the right thing to do. After treatment I use to stay in bed for 4-5 days. Was this your last session or do you have another one (sorry, I don´t remember...chemobrain)?

WiMusicMaker: No, I´m not going there during my rads, I´m going after finishing the whole therapy, it is like vacation :-) Gratulations to your new hair! Mine is still gone and now my eyebrows and lashes start to fall out...

Today I was at the hospital for the blood test before treatment and everyone (nurses and onc) was excited because it would be my last one. So I told the onc that although I´m happy it still scares my that my security blanket will be gone and that I sometimes think if they could give me one or two treatments more- just to be on the safe side...and she laughed and said, she never heard this before and that no one asked for more chemo.

But thats not the case...of course I don´t want more chemo. I wish for everyone of us that we never need it again! But I´d like to have a guarantee...

The hardest thing about cancer is to go on with life after treatment and trust your own body again.

Jan 14, 2012 11:48 AM Carla9112 wrote:

Hi everyone - just checking in.  Lori - I am so happy to hear that your daughter remains in remission.  I'm doing the happy dance!!!

Last chemo next Friday and I already dread it.  I know it's the last one but I'm just now getting over the one from two weeks ago.  Oh well - I'll pull my big girl panties back up again and deal with it.  I'm going to be optimistic - maybe this time won't be so bad.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Jan 16, 2012 04:58 PM barbyjean wrote:

Hi, everyone. It's so good to hear about everyone's last treatment! My last one is this Thursday and I'm dreading it, I was trying to think of a way to get out of it. Knowing it's the last one does help, although I haven't recovered my energy after my previous one so I'm afraid this one will hit me really hard. I'm putting on the big panties and getting on with it! 

Moonflower, your convalescent home sounds great. Nothing like that here, that I have ever heard of. Well, I hope I will be strong enough after radiation to take care of myself. Looking forward so much to warmer weather and short hair and being done with the main part of treatments.

I hope everyone's week is going good. I'm so grateful for the support on this board!!

Barb 

Jan 16, 2012 08:18 PM stjude10 wrote:

Thanks Tappy

I still have 2 tx left to go. Getting that bag of hydration on Friday really seemed to help w/the se's this time around. Also looking forward to warmer weather and rockin a short 'do this summer. I keep watching the hair every day looking for a magical growth. I'm getting anxious!

Here's hoping all has a good week. Just think, 1 week closer to being done for all of us. We are strong! 

Jan 16, 2012 08:51 PM auntienance wrote:

Carla, I started getting some hair growth after my 3rd tc treatment. I kept waiting for it to fall out, but it never did.

Jan 16, 2012 10:59 PM LoriKristine wrote:

Carla- I have white fuzz like infant hair growing on my head! I had taxol and Herceptin #7 last week with 5 more to go. I think it was going to happen for you whether your doc cut it back or not. It just means we are getting closer to the end of this whole ordeal. Yea!!!!

Jan 17, 2012 07:33 PM stjude10 wrote:

Barb, MO thinks that getting a bag of fluid cuts down on the se's for me. I too was dealing w/complete fatigue after tx and would catch a cold or cough, etc. I had it the last 2 times and it seems to ward off any major exhaustion. I still get tired, but not so severe. Since it has worked for me, it's now gonna be standard practice a couple days after tx to get it. The nurses say that it's common, so you should definitely ask your MO if you think it will help. I hope so!

Jan 20, 2012 08:27 AM Carla9112 wrote:

Hi everyone - off to the last treatment.  I'm excited about it being the last one but sure do dread it.  The thoughts of putting the poison in one more time makes me sick.  I hope everyone else that had a treatment this week is doing good.  I'm pretty happy too because I can literally see my hair getting a little longer each day.  Hope the poison today doesn't stump the growth!!

Hope you have a great weekend.  Talk to you soon!

Jan 21, 2012 12:04 AM susanwmcg wrote:

Hi Oct. girls,
I am 6 weeks PFC. Most days I still crave a nap. My hair is coming in but is 90% white. My lashes and brows are slowly falling out now. I had a LE scare right before Christmas. I saw an OT and wore a sleeve. I checked back in with my PT and she found a lot of adhesions under my left arm and TE. She thinks it is localized edema rather than LE. It hurts like heck but she has been trying to break up the adhesions before my swap surgery next Tues. My measurements in my left arm have gone back to normal so hopefully we are on the right track. My BS was shocked I would have LE with one node but I know it does happen.

Glad most of you are finishing up chemo soon. Every hurdle feels great to clear,
Susan

Jan 21, 2012 01:41 PM wildrumara wrote:

Hey Ladies -

 Carla - So glad you mentioned Malinda....I agree, haven't heard from her in awhile....I think she was having some complications, but then rebounded, from what I remember??  Saying prayers for her.....

So, my treatment was on Tuesday....went well.  The nurses gave me a certificate and sang "Happy Days are Here again..."   Oh, how I hope they're right.  I don't ever want to sit in one of those chairs again in my life!!   SEs this time seem a little worse......I was hoping since it was last one that psychologically I would be in a better place; therefore, physically, I might not feel so ill, but that's not the case.....very nauseaous this time....I should probably be taking more anti-nausea meds, but I have boys to run to hockey games and a daughter to sleepovers......its been rough.  I should be turning the corner Monday...at least I hope.  It's the not eating that makes me feel like *hit, but what are you gonna do?? 

So hard to believe chemo is over....now I have to be in a holding period again before surgery.  Not sure if I can wait till 2/29, but I don't think I have a choice......with my schedule, the BS schedule and the PS surgeon's schedule,  that is the best day.....Hopefully I won't get too anxious waiting for the time to pass.  I sure have lots of appointments in February, so I will be busy with those!  

I am really really wrestling with my surgery decision......just not sure if I should for BMX.  Its been discussed 1000 times on these forums and I've probably read as much as I possibly can.  I know, ultimately the decision is mine.  I just pray that God will give me some clarity in making this decision.  I have a lot time to pray about it.......

Well, need to get back to life again for awhile.....kids activities are done for the day.....maybe take a warm bath and some Aleve and rest.......

Can't wait to eat something good....taste buds should be back soon enough!!

 Love to you all!!  

Jan 22, 2012 01:15 PM WIMusicMaker wrote:

Hi Everyone!

Tomorrow is a big day for me as I return to work, part time. I am a teacher and have not worked at all this school year. I am so looking forward to getting that part of my life back again!

I am almost 4 weeks PFC and am feeling pretty good. I do not tire as easily and am able to do many more things around the house(darn!). My hair is coming in, dark brown, and still too short to tell if it will be curly or not.  

On Wednesday, after work, I go in for my simulation of radiation and on Thursday the real treatments start-for 6 1/2 weeks. I am gearing up for being knocked down again as I have been warned by week 3 I will start to feel the fatigue. I hope and pray this portion of my treatment will be a breeze compared to chemo!

Tappy please keep us up to date on how you are doing with the Tamox. I will start that once rads are done.  

I am keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

Mary 

Jan 23, 2012 03:19 PM dia123 wrote:

Hi all,
My last taxol is on Wednesday..happy dance!. Have started Herceptin and I have an appointment tm with oncologist to go over tamoxifen SE and get prescription. Not sure yet when she will have me start it but I'll keep you utd.
I still have neropathy in hands and feet and I think they will lower my last treatment dosage
Still tire very easily and can't really do to much. Mostly wearing out the couch cushions.
I can't believe January is almost over.

Mary. Hope you had a great day at work and I can't wait to have hair again!!,

Have a great week everyone
Diane

Jan 23, 2012 08:34 PM stjude10 wrote:

Congrats Moonflower and Diane on being finished w/chemo. What a relief. And Tappy, aren't you done this week too?

I go in tomorrow for tx, and then I'll just have 1 more to go. Yipee! Looking forward to watching for hair. Am losing my eyebrows and eyelashes, but not my fingernails. Got my 1st fill in my TE last Wed. and get another fill this Wed. Getting kinda excited about not looking lopsided anymore.