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CMF Question
Comments
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Melanie, So sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. Nausea?? Headaches??? General achiness??? All of the above???
I really think that the third tx is the worst. Hang in there. It will get better. Pamper yourself and just rest.
I hope everybody else is doing well and had a nice weekend. Cheryl, were you able to get out and enjoy any of it? How is that new baby doing?
Ginny...so when do you start your radiation? I have only 3 more boosts to the scar area to go. It is amazing how fast the rest of the breast is healing up now that it's not being nuked. Tomorrow I have to go see the surgeon. I imagine that she just wants to keep track of me and to set up mammograms, etc. when all is finished.
Everyone have a good day. Hugs, Melanie.
Rita0 -
Cy, Cathy and Catgirl, hope you are all doing well.
Melanie, #3/4 was the hardest for me too. Let your onc know about your side effects so they can give you the best help with meds. My last 3 treatments were better as I added steroids to Kytril and stemitil. Much more manageable. Rest, drink lots of water and it will get better! All the best to you.
Rita, only 3 more boosts to go! I'm glad your skin is healing. Did you get a reaction eventually? Any tips re: creams/cornstarch... I'm nervous because I'm fair like you and having my chest wall radiated with lymph nodes (even though they were negative?) I got Eucerin cream and baby powder cornstarch. Do you know how you use the 2 together?
You are already getting ready to have your follow up appts. See how we are getting beyond treatments
Blessings everyone,
Ginny0 -
Melanie, sorry to hear tx #3 didn't go so well. But your right we are all one day closer to being done.
Rita, almost done way to go! What is your decision as to complete your last two tx?
I will be done with round 2 tomorrow. 4 more to go. I will surely enjoy my chemo holiday. My oldest son graduates form HS on Thursday and we are planning a graduation party for Sat. Really tired today though don't know if it is all the added stress with the party approaching so fast.
Has anyone had a reverse problem with their white blood count. Mine continued to slowly drop but the last two weeks it has shot up, it went from 5.03 to 12.72 and this last week it was 16.05. As normal high range is 11. They really questioned me as to whether I had a cold or anything else that would cause this dramatic increase so fast. I don't feel as though I have any infections, so they don't know what it would be. At first thy thought it could be from the steriods but when it first went from 5.03-12.72 I was just comming off my chemo holiday and had bloodwork in the a.m and my infusion in the p.m so shouldn't of had any steriods in me. Anyways they are going to see what the count is on Wednesday and we will go from there.
Glad to see that everyone is doing well.0 -
Just popping in to let you all know I'm thinking of you. I'm doing good just really busy with folks, MIL, work and chemo.
Hugs & prayers0 -
So good to hear from you Cheryl and so glad that things are going well for you. Is this chemo a lot different from the CMF as far as the side effects go???
Ginny, My radiation oncologist gave me a cream called Biafine. It does wonders for the skin and is much more concentrated than Eucerin. I put it on twice a day...but not for four hours immediately preceeding a treatment. I used cornstarch under my breast as it got pretty tender and moisture tended to build up in that area. I did not use the cream in this area when I had applied the cornstarch. The cornstarch keeps it dry. My skin has done very well throughout it all and I have only two more days to go. The boosts are being directed only to the scar area now so the rest of the breast is beginning to heal up and is very brown and tan. I had my follow-up visit to the surgeon today and she thought it looked very good. She's already scheduled a mammogram for early December.
As for the last two chemos...I'm still in limbo about them. The radiation oncologist is setting me up an appointment with the regular oncologist to discuss this and I guess I'll get the date of this appt. when I check out of rads on Thursday. Then I'll have a better idea of what is happening next.
I hope everyone is hanging in there and counting down the days in this journey. Good luck to anyone undergoing chemo this week. I haven't done very well keeping everyone's schedule in my head lately and I do apologize.
Take care of yourselves, ladies.
Rita0 -
I'm not sure what the side affects are yet. I'm just too busy to feel any of them so far! But they say I will lose my hair soon! tomorrow is the third treatment. I won't start the other one until the 20th.
So far I think the stress of all I'm doing is overriding anything else. When things settle down I know I'll feel what the chemo is doing. In the meantime I just don't have time for it!
If any of you can make it to Pinkstock in Aug. I would love to meet you! You can read more about it in the Wagon Circle thread or the Get togethers thread.
You all take care
HUgs & prayers0 -
Hi all,
Well, I was in the hospital yesterday. My heart was in Atrial fib (sp?)(beating between 120-200 times per minute) for 12 hours and they could not lower it for 12 hours. I was discharged last night and I am feeling much better. They don't know why it happened and said it may never happen again.
Cathy - strange you should ask about the white blood cell count. When in the hopsital, my count went from 18 then down to 14 with no visible sign of infection. They have cultured my blood and I will get the results by Friday, again they said that it was unusual but not to worry.
-Melanie
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Melanie,Sorry to hear of this horrible experience. i can only imagine how your felt especially not knowing why it was happening. Thank goodness you feel better today. Hope all goes well from here on out.
Went for my weekly blood count today and it dropped from last week from 16.05 - 4.74. You have to wonder how it can go so high and then drop so fast in 7 days. Oh well at least it came back to a normal range. I am going to enjoy my 14 days off and concentrate on my sons graduation.
Cheryl, Hope your tx went well today. Now you can enjoy the few weeks off. Continue to stay busy as long as you are up to it. Sometimes when I have down time my mind starts to think and at times I believe it is more my mind making me believe I feel yucky. Hopefully you will only have mild side effects. Anyways hope today went well for you.
Ginny, Hope your enjoying your time off!!!0 -
Rita, thank you so much for the good advice re:rads. I'm so glad that you have done well with it and are almost done. Let us know what your next step will be. Either way you are almost completed!!! Yeh!
CY, not having time for chemo side effects sounds good. Hope you can take some time to relax too!
Melanie, how scary. Hope they find out the cause. Maybe unrelated to your chemo... Hope you are doing better soon.
Cathy, good to hear your counts went down. Doesn't a higher count mean your immune system is fighting something? Anyway, great it is back to normal and you can enjoy your "chemo holiday".
I'm definetly enjoying the time off; however I'm back to the hospital to take this "Healing Journey" course and will have my port out in 2 weeks. Can't complain, I feel more and more like myself each day. Oops one complaint---darn hot flashes!
Take good care everyone,
Ginny0 -
Hi Everyone! Hopefully I walked through the doors into the high radiation room for the last time today! My rads are done! My skin held out well and I feel such a relief. My oncologist appointment is not until June 22nd. We will decide then if I do the last two chemos. In the meantime, I'm taking these next two week to just enjoy each day and the summer activities that they bring.
Melanie.....my gosh gal! You've had a frightening experience with your visit to the hospital. I'm so glad you're doing better. Keep in touch. I will be thinking about you and sending good wishes and vibes your way.
Cathy...so how did you do after round #3? Good luck with your graduation party. That will keep you occupied for the next few days. What are your son's plans now?
Ginny..Enjoy your "in-between time" and rest assured that the rads will be easier than the chemo. I didn't have a port so don't really know what the removal of it involves but have never heard anyone talk about it so it must be a relatively easy procedure.
Ranchette and Laurie (Iamonly39)...WHERE ARE YOU???? If you are lurking out there, please check in. I'm worried about you.
CY...Keep up that positive attitude. You are amazing! Also don't forget to take a little down time for yourself.
Well I'm off to enjoy this warm, windy, Illinois day! Hope everyone is doing well.
Rita0 -
Rita and All,
Thank you , thank you. I am doing well.
-Melanie 0 -
So glad you are doing well Melanie!
Rita, wow, it is great that you got through your rads so well. Gives the rest of us encouragement. Enjoy your inbetween time.
Hope all is well Cathy. I hope Ranchette, Laurie and Holly are doing well.
We are just renovating our laundry room, powder room... With that and gardening, I'm keeping busy. Love the sunny, warm weather we are getting now.
((hugs)) everyone,
Ginny0 -
TX #4 went well, now 8 more to go.
Rita, congratulations you are done with rads. now you are on the home stretch.
melanie, Glad to hear you are feeling btter, relax and take care of your self on your time off.
Cy, hope your tx are going good. you are a tough women and you will get through this again. i am sure you are enjoying that new grandson.
Ginny, what is the healing journey course? Is it through the cancer society? My local cancer society doesn't offer anything locally. I looked into various support things like look good feel better program but I would have to travel out of town. That is the reason I rely on this forum. I have read all the threads on this site when first diagnosised in Dec. As my mother had passed away 22 years ago at age 49 with Ovarian Cancer and I really have no other women to talk to. I have tried talking to my sister and a few close friends, but they really do not understand the emtions that we go through on a daily basis. I do not mean to be rambling, I guess I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you. You don't realize how you have helped me prepare not only emtionally but also how to handle the effects of chemo. Thank you all for continuing to come back and check on us and give us support and words of encouragement.0 -
HI everyone!
Cathy, you are so right. Often those who are closest to us (friends and family) are not our best supporters during this journey. Sometimes they just don't know what to say and don't want to face the disease, hoping instead to just ignore it. I don't how many times I've had friends say to me, "It's only hair and it will grow back" when I was agonizing about the possibility of losing my hair. I just wanted to shout, "It may be only hair but it isn't YOUR hair." I think it really takes somebody who has walked in the shoes to really understand the multitude of emotional and physical affects related to this journey. Rest assured we are here for you. We may not know all the answers but we understand and we stick together.
Rita0 -
Amen
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Hi Cathy, the Healing Journey is a 3 part course that is offered at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada. It is exceptional (I know because my Aunt did it 20 years ago and it helped her immensly) Part one is "Taking control: coping with cancer stress", Part two is Getting connected: skills for healing, Part three is "Finding meaning: steps to spiritual healing". I know they are going to soon be offering this course on line, so that opens it up to everyone! The website is: www.healingjourny.ca. Please know we are here for you too!
People mean well, but as Rita said you just don't understand, unless you have been through it.
Hope everyone is hangin in there. This is only temporary! We are all strong ladies, we have help from above and we have each other!
Blessings,
Ginny0 -
Ginny..That Healing Journey program sounds excellent. I have not heard of anything like that in our state. When do your rads start????
Rita0 -
Good morning,
I hope everybody is feeling well!
-Melanie 0 -
Hi,
Rita I start rads June 25. Had my blood tests done today for my surgery next week to take out my port. I think my hair stopped shedding! Four weeks off chemo and I'm definitely not losing as much hair! I had my hair streaked last week and no problems Enjoying the recoup time, just not enjoying thoses darn hot flashes (although they are getting less each day---yippee!!) Have you started your other treatment Rita (pills)?
Hi Melanie! How are you doing? You had a rough scare the other week, is all well now?
Blessings,
Ginny0 -
Just popping in to check on you all. The grandkids are lots of fun!
This chemo is trying to kick my butt!
I start nuepogen shots tomorrow!
but I refuse to let this get me!
Hope you all are doing well and I'm praying and thinking of you0 -
Good morning everyone! It's another lovely day in Illinois. Although I love the sunshine and the hot temps, we really need rain. My flowers need a drink and rain is crucial for the crops right now.
CHERYL....SO GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!! I think of you every day and keep my fingers and toes crossed that you'll have minimal side effects. It appears that this chemo is quite a bit worse than CMF???? Good luck with the neupogen shots. What is your hair situation with this? You are a real trooper and I love and admire your attitude!! Hang in there, friend.
Ginny, I am still shedding hair...mainly when I wash it. When I know for sure about the last two chemos, I need to get serious about my diet. I have been trying to eat better but I really need to instigate a plan once things are over. I will not start the Arimidex pills until everything is done. My appt. with the oncologist is June 22nd so I should know the rest of the game plan then. I'll either do the last two chemos (YUCK) or go immediately to the Arimidex, I think. Good luck with the port removal next week. I will be thinking about you. I finished rads one week ago today and my breast is healing very well. In fact, it's very brown and tan.
Melanie and Cathy....how are you two gals doing?
Ranchette..where have you been? If you are lurking, please post and keep us updated.
I hope everyone is enjoying this lovely day...and no matter what your weather is in your location, every day is a lovely day!!!!!
Rita0 -
Cy, you go girl, kick cancer hard! You are an inspiration. Glad you are having fun with your grandkids---a blessing!
Rita, I know what you mean about a better diet. Before my diagnosis I had joined weight watchers (lost 15 pounds!) and was working out with a personal trainer. Ironically, I felt great. Definitely have not been following any diet and have been too tired to do regular exercise. I hear you should not lose weight during rads (another excuse to eat dessert! ) Anyhow, I know it is hard to start, but after a few weeks you get into a good system and start to feel the good effects. Anyway, all the best with your appt with your onc. So glad rads went well for you (a tan, I can handle that!)
Shout out to Melanie, Cathy and Ranchette.
Love the beautiful weather, garden, birds...A great gift not to be overlooked! Yes, every day is lovely and so precious.
Ginny0 -
Hi gals!
Just wanted to check in better taking off early tomorrow morning for Tennessee to take my dad out to Father's Day Dinner. After the loss of my Mom, I'm a bit more cognizant of making that extra effort to spend quality time with them. I'm a little worried about the long drive but will just stop and browse when I start to tire! I used to do it all the time (when I could multitask, remember things, and felt confident in my coping skills) and didn't think anything about it. I need to work on getting back my "independence skills!"
Everyone have a good weekend and check in regularly even though the added hours of sunlight each day and warmer weather keeps us outside more hours of each day. We haven't heard from some of you in quite some time and we miss you.
CY...keep hanging in there and enjoying those grandkids!
Hope your port removal goes well, Ginny. You are just about done with this program!!!
Have a great weekend! Enjoy the weather and laugh alot!
Rita0 -
Just bumping this up for us so we can keep it going. I made the trip to TN and am back in Illinois. I did get tired driving by myself but just got out, found some coffee or Mountain Dew, walked a bit, got back in and headed on down the road. I am so glad that I went.
I see the onc on Friday to learn the next phase of my treatment so I intend to have a good week.
Hope you are all just busy. Hopefully that accounts for the lack of posts.
Hello to all of you. Hope you're hanging in there, Cheryl.
Rita0 -
Hi all,
Rita, is that a long car ride? I would be pooped too. Don't worry, energy will come back. But maybe it is a good lesson to slow down a little more?
Had my 45th birthday on Friday. My husband planned an amazing suprise party with friends and relatives from out of town---it was fantastic! The weekend was kind of all birthday related.
I hope everyone is hanging in there.
Take care,
Ginny0 -
Rita Glad you made the trip OK driving for long tires me out now and I love to drive!
Ginny, Happy belated Birthday!
I lost a lot of hair in the shower last night but I still have a lot too! I lost more than my husband has! (he has thin hair). I started wearing a hat today as I'm losing it rapidly it looks like. Most that don't know me wouldn't even know yet.
My parents left today to head back home. It was nice to have them here for the last month. I will miss them. But they need to get their house ready to sell so they can move up here next year.
well I'm tired so should get off and get some sleep. Got lots to do at work tomorrow.
Take care,
Hugs and prayers
Cheryl0 -
Ginny.........Belated Happy Birthday! 45!!! How nice that your DH planned a nice celebration for you. I'm turning 60 at the end of the summer and believe me, I'm going to celebrate every birthday that I have from now on!!!
Cheryl, so good to hear from you. I assume that your chemo is going as well as possible and your attitude still seems very good. I also assume that you are still working. What does your job entail and how strenuous and stress-related is it? How's that new baby doing? I've been thinking about you and was so glad to see your post. Hang in there and keep in touch. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers!
The rest of you gals need to check in and let us know how you are doing! We miss you!
We finally got some much needed rain here yesterday. It is supposed to continue this morning before clearing later this afternoon. My flowers enjoyed it and I don't have to water everything for a few days.
I hope all of you are getting through the treatments and marking them off as you finish them. Please keep in touch ladies.
Rita0 -
4th infusion today.. HALF WAY !!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!
Hope everybody is feeling well.
-Melanie 0 -
Good luck today with #4, Melanie. Doesn't it seem great to be half-way done? I'm sending good vibes your way for little or no side effects and wishing you the best!
You're on the downhill slide after this one, gal!!!
Hang in there and keep that lovely smile on your face.
Rita0 -
I'm trying, Rita. Thanks for the encouragement, really.
Hang in there all!
-Melanie 0
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