Best Of
Re: Starting Chemo May and June 2024 Support Thread
@Love4All Chemo round 1 was the toughest for me too. I'm glad you've found some relief and figured out what works for you. The pics of you and your father are wonderful—so happy he could visit. I'm deeply sorry about your baby. 😔 🙏🏼💙 Sending {{{HUGS}}} your way.
@justsnapd8 Hope your head is feeling much better. Since going shiny bald, I’ve been struggling with scalp zits—probably due to the heat, hats, and wigs. Fingers crossed round 2 side effects are fading for you!
@bythebay Everything does taste weird! I cherish that brief period between chemo rounds when food tastes normal and the side effects ease up. Hope you’re feeling better now!
@sarahjunefox Did the bruise go away yet? What do/did the doctors say?
My skin is so delicate lately. I can barely wear makeup without reacting. The inner and outer corners of my eyes had a severe reaction and became raw, almost like a burn. They’re healing with ointment, but now look like elephant skin. If it’s not one side effect, it’s another 🙄
Re: Starting Chemo May and June 2024 Support Thread
@Love4All I can relate to how emotional this is for you. I had 2 cats and lost them both in April. First, Simon had some sort of mental illness that made him hyper-aggressive. It was dangerous for me, and I finally had to make that hard decision. There was a medicine that I could try, but I was unable to administer it. at the same time my other cat, Sebastian was having tummy issues and we ended up doing surgery and he still wouldn't eat. So 23 days after the first, I had to let go the second. My heart is still broken. of course right after that was the cancer diagnosis but I knew that was coming. I had postponed myself to take care of my babies or to try anyway.
Re: Ibrance (Palbociclib)
Beautiful photos of the PNW!
I can't remember what I've said here, so pardon my repetition. Since Ibrance and Truqap both failed I've moved on to Afinitor. Still getting the monthly shots of Faslodex and quarterly infusions of Zometa.
My tumor markers are climbing, but hopefully this will slow them down. I have a biopsy/FNA of the omentum on 8/14. I think they'll try to get samples and re-check the hormone receptor status. Next PET scan should be the middle of September.
I'm doing OK. I'm tired a lot, but I think we all are.
Stay safe, cool and rested, everyone.
Love to all,
Carol
Re: ER-, PR-, Her2+ Roll call
@bailey.boo omg I just finished watching movie about herceptin -"Living Proof" and I immediately had to come to this community and encourage you all to watch it. It is freaking incredible how lucky we are to have herceptin as a treatment option!!! Thank you to all the women who participated in those trials - I'm so grateful to them and to the researchers. ..this movie is definitely a tear jerker. ..so inspirational.
Thinking of you all in this community right now 🤗
snm
Re: Starting Chemo May and June 2024 Support Thread
Well, after a really great visit with my dad, I found out on his last day here that my 13 year old cat has lymphoma and won’t live more than a couple of weeks. WTF universe?! How much cancer can one family take?
Love4All
Re: STEAM ROOM FOR ANGER
Just saw Shannon Doherty died of BC and was only 53. Knew she was Stage IV for a long time. So young and so sad. Terrible disease.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
AH the old onc trick of ordering a range of labs when you complain about fatigue in order to looked like they have control over that. Look, in winter my B12 goes wonky every year, or vit D, thr latest was Folic Acid which meant another pill. I get my thyroid tested quarterly too. Meanwhile the anti depressant to help me sleep means I can't wake up and thr lymphadema means I get tired lugging my leg around and thats before we get to the actual chemo. I know they want us to have quality of life and live like its a drug commercial, but its not happening. Frankly lets fix whats wrong then worry if I've got energy! Also, I stopped taking the folic acid a few weeks ago when the c diff popped up because I couldn't deal with one more pill on a daily basis. Not sure if they've noticed yet!
Had a massive craving for hot fried food show up last night (onion rings) but was watching my cooking show tonight and oh man hot spring rolls! Sent hubs around the corner to the Chinese for two and they were super hot, homemade, and crispy but not greasy. Just perfect (maybe a bit salty but that could be my wonky palate). I may score those onion rings Monday after chemo and a super super long day of tests and treatment.
Covid I think I had 6 vaccines and then I'd finally had enough and figure ill get it with flu shot and call it good. I'll take care to sanitize hands and mask up on our trip, though. I'd prefer not to have a family party, and my counts are strong, but I'm not sure how mom will pass that off to everyone, some tricky relationships in there. Small enough family that we could maybe do just a home visit rather than a party. My cousins are all too boring anyway and my siblings aren't near.
Otherwise trucking along just bored even with things to do.
Sunday Edit - Ohhhh I am crushed CRUSHED by Shannen Doherty passing. Catching up on her fight and seeing her still traveling late last year, starting a podcast, it really made me feel hopeful, even after she got the brain mets. I agree with you Mara about the whole 'lost her fight' - hell, she was living it up to the maxx this last year with that big trip to Italy and still fighting her ex-husband over medical payments or whatever. She was a fighter in a lot of ways, but she never lost to MBC. Brenda Walsh 4 ever!
sondraf
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I immediately learned why I could not work another job. Dropped a dozen eggs, that is not the bad part. Could not for the life of me get the mop part attached. I cried, swore and all for about 5 mins. Stopped and decided to attached two of the mop pads with elastic and it works the same, will put in the washer and wash elastics by hand and keep them close by. Don't need the frustration and my SIL gave me tons of mop pads.
I do wish my first resort to frustration is to cry. I don't spend long crying but it should not be a thing at all. I did get up most of the mess from the dropped eggs but will vacuum the shells later, floor a little sticky but I will attend to that later. Thankfully the two hash browns and two eggs came out fine, salted, mayo and ketchup is good for me.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I’m pissed! I can’t believe Shannen is dead, her latest podcast was less than 3 weeks ago. Her disease mirrored mine in several ways, although I was ahead of her. From being stage 4 at a young age, to having brain mets to getting great results from a new chemo (Enhertu). What the hell just happened?! Did it stop working and cancer took over that quickly? Did it spread somewhere else and was not treatable? WTF?!
illimae
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I am so sad that shannen Dougherty has died from MBC. She’s been such a fighter. Ugh. This damn disease. I feel so sad. She did do well at first! I hate you cancer !
micmel